Government is making efforts to end Israeli aggression, says Salam to Deriane

BEIRUT — Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized during a meeting Thursday with the mufti of the Republic, Abdellatif Deriane, that "the government is conducting contacts, diplomatic and political initiatives, both Arab and international, to put an end to the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon," reports Dar al-Fatwa.

"Lebanon will overcome the crisis it is going through thanks to the solidarity of its people," Salam added.

Despite the cease-fire agreement reached in late November 2024, which ended more than 13 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, the Israeli army continues to conduct almost daily airstrikes on South Lebanon and occupy five areas it considers "strategic" within Lebanese territory.

An Israeli drone targeted several prefabricated houses in Mhaybib, a village that had been partially razed by the Israeli army, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. On Wednesday, drone strikes killed three people in southern Lebanon, in Ain Baal, Yater, and Aitaroun. The Israeli army claimed to have targeted a "Hezbollah arms engineer and expert" and a commander of its elite al-Radwan unit.

During his meeting with the Sunni religious dignitary, Salam also stated that "the government has made significant progress in tangible reforms that directly affect citizens in various fields and continues its reform efforts at the economic and social levels, notably by activating state institutions that encompass everyone, based on the Taif Agreement and the Constitution."

Relations with Arab countries

Salam further emphasized that "Lebanon's relations with its Arab brothers have begun to return to normal and are now at an advanced stage of cooperation and support for the good of the country." President Joseph Aoun and the Salam government are striving to restore ties with Gulf states after years of tensions, primarily related to Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon.

For his part, Mufti Deriane expressed his willingness to "support the government and its leader in inclusive national work and the reforms being implemented," calling for "more achievements that the Lebanese people expect, particularly the prompt resolution of the issue of Lebanese and foreign detainees, notably Islamists, who have been held for a long time without fair trial."

Lebanese prisons suffer from chronic overcrowding and often deplorable detention conditions. Many detainees languish in their cells for years awaiting trial. Protests for the release of Islamists and a general amnesty have multiplied following the fall of the Assad family regime in Syria in December 2024.

Mufti Deriane finally welcomed "the atmosphere that prevailed during the municipal elections in Lebanon, particularly in Beirut, in terms of calm and democratic competition, through which all Lebanese expressed their will ... for the follow-up of this national deadline and the proper management of the electoral process."

The municipal elections, which were organized after three years of repeated postponements due to various circumstances, have already taken place in Mount Lebanon, Northern Lebanon, Beirut, and the Bekaa. The voting will be held Saturday in the South.