Beirut: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized on Sunday the necessity for both Israel and Hezbollah to adhere to the obligations of last year's ceasefire agreement. Addressing the Doha Forum 2025, Salam highlighted the imbalance in political discourse, which has predominantly scrutinized Hezbollah's compliance while overlooking Israel's breaches of the accord.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Salam, during an interview with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for the Economist, expressed concerns about Israel's ongoing actions, which he described as a 'war of attrition.' Despite the ceasefire agreement endorsed by both Beirut and Tel Aviv in 2024, Salam asserted that Israel has not observed a cessation of hostilities as initially agreed upon.
Salam stressed the importance of reciprocal enforcement based on the commitments both parties accepted the previous year. He pointed out that Hezbollah has formally accepted the terms of the deal, which delineates the six entities permitted to bear arms in Lebanon, excluding Hezbollah. However, he criticized Israel for not fulfilling its obligation to withdraw from several Lebanese border points it occupied last year.
The prime minister challenged Israeli claims regarding the strategic importance of these positions, arguing that modern surveillance technologies render such claims obsolete. He voiced that Lebanon has honored its commitments, preparing an army plan to reestablish state authority over all weapons in phases, starting with areas around the Litani River.
Despite Lebanon's efforts, Salam indicated that without Israeli compliance, the implementation process remains incomplete. He reiterated the need for both parties to honor their commitments, underscoring that Hezbollah, like any other party, must adhere to the agreement, but Israel must also fulfill its responsibilities.
The Lebanese government approved a plan on August 5, based on a proposal by US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, to place all weapons under state control, with the army tasked to implement this by the end of 2025. However, Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected this move, insisting on Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory before any disarmament.
Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that since the ceasefire agreement in November 2024, at least 335 people have been killed and 973 others injured in 1,038 Israeli attacks. The Israeli army was expected to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January, but only partially complied, maintaining a military presence at five border outposts.