By Nohad Topalian | 2026-02-17

Last week, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated that Lebanon will not be drawn into another adventure or new conflict.

Salam’s statement at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on February 3 underscores a commitment to shielding the country from further regional instability.

He responded directly to the January 26 remarks made by Hizbullah chief Naim Qassem concerning potential US military action against the Iranian regime.

Qassem had asserted that while the group would choose its own course of action, it remains "not neutral" in the face of such threats.

To protect the Lebanese people, Salam is working to prevent further military escalation, viewing Hizbullah’s involvement in the Gaza conflict as a strategic error.

His government aims to avoid a repeat of that costly "adventure" by reclaiming state control over decisions of war and peace.

Hizbullah’s involvement in the conflict has endangered southern Lebanon's population, destroyed homes and villages, and directly threatened the nation’s sovereignty and stability.

"Salam’s stance represents a historic shift, with Lebanese authorities finally acting to prevent any group, specifically Hizbullah, from monopolizing decisions of war or peace," said political writer Qassem Youssef.

"This move signals a serious effort to stop unilateral actions that fuel regional instability," he told Al-Fassel.

Salam firmly rejected allowing any party to engage in new military adventures that would expose Lebanon to further destruction, and its people to further killing.

"His stance confirms the government's priority of maintaining peace, stability, and national sovereignty over regional entanglements," Youssef said.

A path toward peace, regional stability

The Lebanese government’s focus on peace and sovereignty aligns with a broader global consensus to move the region toward stability and economic prosperity.

By prioritizing the rule of law, Lebanon is positioning itself to rebuild international confidence and secure the investment necessary for long-term recovery.

To this end, the government is moving swiftly to meet international demands by implementing the army's deployment plan across all Lebanese territory.

This effort aims to establish a state that holds the exclusive authority over war and peace, maintains a monopoly on weapons, and exercises full sovereignty.

Political writer George Hayek told Al-Fassel that regional entanglements are the root of Lebanon's crisis.

He argued "that an armed group with a cross-border ideology—which previously intervened in the Syrian war and attempted to destabilize Gulf security—continues to undermine Lebanon's national interests."

Hayek praised Prime Minister Salam’s rejection of a new conflict as an "excellent stance" that addresses the core of Lebanon's crisis.

The government's commitment to stability stands in sharp contrast to Qassem’s rhetoric, which signals a binding commitment to follow Iran's lead should war erupt.