Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon requires a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from its territory to end the current war [1].
This demand marks a critical pivot in diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region. Since the conflict began on March 2, 2026 [2], the Lebanese government has sought a framework that restores national sovereignty and ensures the unity of its lands.
During a press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris on April 21, 2026, Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the path toward peace [3]. The prime minister said stability depends on the total removal of foreign troops and the completion of difficult negotiations [4].
Earlier this month, in a statement to Al Arabiya on April 12, 2026, Salam outlined the government's primary objective [5]. "We are working to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese lands through negotiation," Salam said [5].
Addressing the internal dynamics of the conflict, Salam clarified the state's position regarding domestic armed groups. During the April 21 press conference, he said, "The Lebanese state does not seek a confrontation with Hezbollah" [3].
The prime minister said the process of reaching a ceasefire is a series of arduous discussions. He said lasting stability is contingent upon the Israeli withdrawal and the resolution of these challenging talks [4].
France has positioned itself as a key mediator in these discussions. President Macron's engagement with Salam in Paris underscores the international community's push to prevent further escalation and establish a permanent border agreement between the two nations [3].
“We are working to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese lands through negotiation.”
By explicitly linking the end of the war to a total Israeli withdrawal, the Lebanese government is establishing a non-negotiable baseline for sovereignty. Salam's simultaneous insistence that the state is not seeking conflict with Hezbollah suggests a strategy to maintain internal stability while focusing diplomatic pressure on external forces to exit Lebanese territory.
