Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday that restoring normalcy to southern Lebanon “is not just a slogan, but a national objective and an expression of the country’s unity.” During a visit to the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Salam added that the Lebanese army would begin reopening roads and restoring services. This would coincide with the arrival of military vehicles at the town’s entrance. Moreover, it would coincide with the deployment of army units, according to Lebanese media. The prime minister affirmed that Lebanon “will continue to mobilize our political and diplomatic efforts to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from the south.”
The Prime Minister was accompanied on this field visit by a high-level delegation that included Defense Minister Michel Mansour, Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Audeh, and Secretary General of the Supreme Defense Council Major General Mohammad Mustafa. Also accompanying him were the President of the Council for Development and Reconstruction, Mohammad Qabbani, and the President of the Council of the South, Hashem Haidar. In addition, the Director of the Central Operations Room at the Prime Minister’s Office, Zahi Shahin, was present.
The Lebanese army has deployed and completed its control over Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The Lebanese Army officially announced the deployment of its units throughout the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya. This deployment occurred immediately after the completion of the Israeli withdrawal. It also paved the way for establishing security and securing the area. The Lebanese Army Command confirmed that its units had completed their deployment within Zawtar al-Gharbiya. This followed the necessary communications and coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L). The Command clarified that its forces had not yet entered the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya.
Israeli gunfire and calls for military coordination
The Lebanese Army announced on Tuesday that Israeli forces opened fire in the vicinity of its military units while they were conducting a deployment operation in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, endangering the soldiers and hindering the mission. In a statement, the Army Command explained that Israeli forces approached the outskirts of Zawtar al-Gharbiya while Lebanese Army personnel were inside the town carrying out their deployment. As a result, the Israeli forces opened fire in close proximity to them. This endangered the soldiers and impeded the execution of their assigned mission. The statement stressed the need to halt these attacks, calling on the Israeli army to address any issues through the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L) and official, established communication channels. It also called for an end to all attacks and violations on the ground.
