Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reaffirmed that the country has no intention of normalizing relations with Israel, dismissing any possibility of diplomatic ties.
Speaking to a press delegation in Beirut on Wednesday, Salam made it clear that such a move does not reflect the will of the Lebanese people.
Reports in local media suggest that the United States has been pressuring Lebanon to agree to a deal that stops short of full normalization but goes beyond a simple armistice with Israel. However, Salam stated that Lebanon continues to rely on political and diplomatic channels to counter Israeli actions, indicating that efforts to end Israeli hostilities in southern Lebanon are still ongoing.
The Prime Minister also addressed Israel’s continued military presence at five border outposts in southern Lebanon. He asserted that these positions hold no real military or security significance, arguing that Israel maintains them merely as a means to exert pressure on Lebanon.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah led to months of cross-border violence, which escalated into a larger conflict in September. A ceasefire agreement took effect in November, but Lebanese authorities have since documented over 1,250 Israeli violations, including airstrikes and artillery attacks that have resulted in the deaths of at least 100 people and injuries to over 330 others.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel was supposed to withdraw from Lebanese territory by January 26, but after missing that deadline, it was granted an extension until February 18. Despite this, Israel has yet to fully pull out, maintaining its military presence at strategic points along the border.
With tensions still high, Lebanon remains firm in its stance against normalization while calling for stronger international efforts to hold Israel accountable for ceasefire violations.