Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated on Thursday that there is no foreseeable end to the ongoing war, which has already forced over a million people to flee their homes within the past month. Families escaping Israeli airstrikes expressed exhaustion from the repeated cycles of violence. Lebanon is now entering the second month of hostilities between the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and Israel, which has vowed to occupy large parts of southern Lebanon to establish a “security zone” aimed at protecting its northern population.
“Lebanon has become a casualty of a conflict whose outcomes and duration remain unpredictable,” Salam said following a cabinet meeting. He highlighted Israeli officials’ statements and military actions that suggest ambitions to significantly expand their occupation of Lebanese territory, create buffer zones or security belts, and displace more than a million Lebanese citizens.
Israel’s declaration that it intends to maintain control over southern Lebanon has raised concerns about a prolonged occupation, reminiscent of the two-decade presence that ended in 2000. In response, Salam pledged that his government would intensify diplomatic and political efforts to bring the war to a close. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s call for direct negotiations with Israel has yet to receive any reply.
Despite the 2024 ceasefire that ended the previous conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has continued airstrikes on Lebanon and maintains troops on five hilltop positions in the south. The current full-scale Israeli air and ground offensive began after Hezbollah launched attacks into Israel on March 2, in solidarity with Iran following the US and Israeli military actions against Tehran. Salam condemned these coordinated assaults involving Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, without explicitly naming Hezbollah.
More than 1,300 people have died due to Israeli strikes, and approximately 20% of Lebanon’s population has been displaced. Israeli evacuation orders cover about 15% of Lebanese territory. Salam expressed solidarity with those who remain in their southern hometowns and villages despite the conflict, emphasizing the government’s support for them.
Thousands of Lebanese, including around 9,000 Christians living in border towns, have chosen to stay put even as Lebanese troops withdraw to avoid clashes with Israeli forces. These residents have voiced determination to remain despite the advancing military operations.
Salam also underscored the importance of maintaining internal stability amid the war’s strain on Lebanon’s sectarian political divisions. Some communities have been hesitant to host displaced families, prompting the government to explore long-term housing solutions for those affected. Mohammad al-Badran, a Syrian resident of Beirut’s southern suburbs, recounted being turned away when seeking refuge in a mountainous area near the capital. He and his family, including a newborn and four children, are now living in a makeshift tent in Beirut, with his 10-year-old daughter Nour hearing the sounds of Israeli strikes nearby.
Another displaced resident, Ali al-Aziz, called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon to end the conflict and allow people to return home. “We want the war to end once and for all, not to face repeated wars every year or decade,” he said.
