BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has announced the formation of a new government, ending more than two years of political deadlock under an interim cabinet.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the presidency confirmed it had accepted the resignation of the caretaker government and appointed a new 24-member cabinet led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Salam, a diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), outlined his administration’s priorities, including judicial reforms, economic recovery, and ensuring political stability. “Reform is the only path to true salvation,” he said during a speech at the presidential palace.
One of the key commitments of the new government is to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The resolution calls for the withdrawal of Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups from areas south of the Litani River, near Lebanon’s border with Israel.
“We will work towards implementing Resolution 1701 and ensuring the withdrawal of all non-state actors from the southern border,” Salam stated.
Lebanon’s newly formed government signals a shift away from leadership figures aligned with Hezbollah, as Beirut seeks to secure reconstruction funds and foreign investment to aid its economic recovery. The country has been mired in a financial crisis since 2019, with its currency losing more than 90% of its value and poverty rates soaring.
Hezbollah’s position
The announcement of the new government follows remarks by US Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus, who on Friday called for Hezbollah’s exclusion from the cabinet. “The continued presence of Hezbollah in the government is a red line for Washington,” Ortagus stated.
Following the cabinet’s formation, the US Embassy in Lebanon issued a statement welcoming the development and urging the government to prioritise reforms and state-building efforts.
Meanwhile, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, hailed the formation of the new government as a step forward for the crisis-stricken nation. “The end of the political impasse heralds a new and brighter chapter for Lebanon,” she said.
President Aoun, who took office in January, was not Hezbollah’s preferred candidate. However, his election ended a prolonged presidential vacuum and set the stage for the formation of the new government.
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Salam’s cabinet, formed in less than a month after his appointment, faces immediate challenges, including rebuilding Lebanon’s war-damaged southern region and maintaining border security amid ongoing tensions with Israel.
Addressing the nation, Salam pledged to “restore confidence between citizens and the state, between Lebanon and its neighbours, and between Lebanon and the international community.” He also reaffirmed his commitment to securing Israel’s withdrawal from all Lebanese territories.
