Lebanon's premier warns against dragging country into 'new war' amid US-Iran tensions

2026-02-25 - 20:42

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a stark warning Wednesday against any attempt to draw Lebanon into a renewed conflict, as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran ahead of Thursday's nuclear talks in Geneva. Speaking at a Ramadan iftar at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Salam emphasized that Lebanon has already endured a devastating war and cannot withstand another. Rejection of Conflict "It has been an extraordinary year in terms of events and challenges. Lebanon has emerged from a devastating war, yet Israeli attacks continue," Salam said. "It is in no way in our interest, and we will not accept that Lebanon be dragged into an adventure or a new war." His remarks come amid fears that a US military strike on Iran could trigger retaliation and draw in Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which holds significant political and military power in Lebanon. Military Readiness The prime minister stated that the Lebanese army is fully prepared to implement the second phase of a government plan to confine weapons, estimating that "the armed forces can achieve this task in four months if they are provided with all needed resources." The reference to weapons control implicitly addresses Hezbollah's arsenal, which the group maintains as a resistance force against Israel but which critics argue undermines state authority. Conflicting Signals Salam's warning follows Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem's statement that the group would not remain neutral if Iran were attacked by the US or Israel. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged Hezbollah on Tuesday to avoid involvement in any new confrontation, cautioning that participation in a potential US-Iran conflict could expose Lebanon's infrastructure to Israeli strikes. The conflicting statements highlight Lebanon's precarious position, caught between its official policy of neutrality and Hezbollah's commitment to Iran. Regional Context Washington and Tehran are set to resume indirect nuclear negotiations Thursday amid unprecedented US military buildup in the Persian Gulf and Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps drills. President Trump has warned of military action if a deal is not reached within days. For Lebanon, already reeling from economic collapse and the devastating 2024 war with Israel, any new conflict could prove catastrophic—a reality Salam sought to underscore with his urgent appeal for restraint.