Lebanese PM Slams Hezbollah: "We Were Dragged into a War to Avenge Khamenei"
"It’s not my job to avenge Khamenei." Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam slams Hezbollah for dragging Lebanon into a devastating war for Iranian interests. As the IDF destroys strategic bridges and the Haredi Hashmonaim Brigade deploys, Beirut signals a desperate readiness for negotiations.
In an extraordinary and blunt interview with the Saudi Al-Hadath network, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam signaled a deep internal rift in Beirut, openly criticizing Hezbollah for embroiling the country in a conflict that serves Iranian interests rather than Lebanese ones.
Prime Minister Salam did not mince words regarding the current escalation between Israel, the U.S., and Iran. He characterized the conflict as a "new adventure" forced upon the Lebanese people.
"I, the President, and other officials warned against deteriorating into this war," Salam stated. "Just as we were brought into the first 'support war' for Gaza, this time we were brought in to assist Iran as revenge for the elimination of Khamenei. This is a war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran that we were dragged into, and Lebanon has no direct interest in it at all."
He went further to distance the state from Tehran’s regional agenda: "It is not my job to avenge the death of Khamenei."
Salam addressed the long-standing issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, noting that the state is "decades late" in centralizing military authority as required by the Taif Agreement. He accused the terror group of destroying the state’s credibility and displacing over a million citizens.
While calling to avoid a literal civil war, he took a hard line against the group’s political pressure: "I do not accept surrender to Hezbollah's blackmail. They must stop threatening us with civil war. I am not surrendering."
The Prime Minister confirmed that Lebanon is officially ready for negotiations to restore a ceasefire, though he claimed Israel has yet to respond to the proposed agenda. His goal is a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories and a return to the cessation of hostilities.
Lebanese President Aoun met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to address what they described as a "dangerous escalation" of Israeli military operations.
The discussion focused heavily on the IDF’s recent strategic shift: the systematic destruction of bridges over the Litani River, including the critical Qasmiyeh Bridge on the coastal highway. According to Lebanese reports, these strikes have effectively severed the geographical link between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country. President Aoun warned that the destruction of vital infrastructure is a "blatant violation of sovereignty" and potentially a prelude to a larger ground offensive.
The two leaders highlighted the "unprecedented" humanitarian crisis now facing Lebanon. Official estimates discussed in the meeting indicate that nearly one million residents have been displaced from southern towns and village.