Lebanon’s newly formed government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has omitted any mention of “armed resistance” from its ministerial statement for the first time since 2005, according to a draft seen by The National. The move signals a recalibration of Lebanon’s official stance on the military activities of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and a broader effort to reassert state sovereignty over defence and security matters.
The statement, which still needs to be approved by parliament, was authorised by the cabinet on Monday and lays out the government's priorities, focusing on national sovereignty and adherence to UN Resolution 1701.
“The government will strengthen the legitimate armed forces by equipping, training and enhancing their capabilities,” the statement read.
For two decades, Lebanon’s ministerial statements have included language affirming Hezbollah’s role in resisting Israeli aggression, a stance deeply embedded in the country’s political framework. The latest policy statement, however, emphasises the exclusive authority of the state in decisions of war and peace, marking a clear break from previous administrations.
Many in Lebanon argue that the shift reflects mounting internal and external pressure to limit Hezbollah’s influence, which was waned after the group’s year-long war with Israel and the fall of the regime of its Syrian ally Bashar Al Assad that previously served as a crucial conduit for Iranian support.
Whether this bold departure from past ministerial statements will translate into tangible change remains to be seen.
Earlier this year, Lebanon elected Joseph Aoun as President and Mr Salam as Prime Minister. The leaders were regarded as political outsiders, unaffiliated with the traditional ruling elite whose governance has been blamed for plunging the country into repeated crises.
The formation of Mr Salam’s cabinet followed years of political stagnation and worsening economic conditions for the Lebanese people. The new administration faces the daunting task of navigating postwar reconstruction, economic turmoil, political divisions and security concerns while maintaining international support.
Lebanon is also looking to re-engage diplomatically with key regional players, particularly Saudi Arabi and the UAE, which had distanced themselves over the past few years from Beirut due to Iran’s sway over Lebanese affairs.
The government aims to strengthen ties with Gulf nations and negotiate new agreements on border security with Syria and the Syrian refugee crisis, recognising that economic assistance from Arab allies could be vital to Lebanon’s recovery, the statement said.
“We will ensure that Lebanon is never used as a platform to attack our brothers and friends in Arab states,” it said.
Hezbollah has been accused of carrying out campaigns against Gulf states through various attacks and supporting regional militia groups that aligned with Iran’s interests.
IMF talks
Beyond security policy, the government’s primary focus remains economic stabilisation. Lebanon plans to negotiate a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address its financial default and public debt, according to the policy statement.
The statement said the government would work for an economic revival that could only be achieved through restructuring the banking sector.
Lebanon has been in deep economic crisis since 2019, when its financial system collapsed under the weight of massive state debts, prompting a sovereign default in 2020 and freezing ordinary depositors out of their savings in the banking system.
Beirut reached a draft funding deal with the IMF in 2022 – contingent on reforms that authorities failed to deliver.
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RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day – 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227-4 at the close.
Play-off fixtures
Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14
- Northern Ireland v Switzerland
- Croatia v Greece
- Denmark v Ireland
- Sweden v Italy
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
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