Lebanese PM questions Barrack’s remarks, urges Israeli withdrawal
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Salam stresses the Lebanese government's commitment to implementing the plan outlined by the Council of Ministers.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrives to attend a cabinet meeting which will discuss the army plan for disarming the Resistance, at the Presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Friday, Sept 5, 2025 (AP)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam voiced surprise at recent comments by US envoy Tom Barrack, which questioned the government’s seriousness and cast doubt on the role of the Lebanese army.
In a statement, Salam stressed that the Lebanese government is "fully committed to implementing its ministerial program, particularly in terms of reforms, extending state authority across all its territory, and ensuring that arms remain exclusively in the hands of the state, as reflected in decisions taken by the Council of Ministers."
He reaffirmed "his confidence that the Lebanese army is fulfilling its responsibilities in protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, safeguarding its stability, and carrying out its national duties," including the plan it presented to the Council of Ministers on September 5.
أستغرب التصريحات الأخيرة التي أدلى بها السفير توماس باراك والتي تشكك بجدية الحكومة ودور الجيش. وأؤكد أن الحكومة ملتزمة بتنفيذ بيانها الوزاري كاملاً ولا سيما لجهة القيام بالإصلاحات التي تعهدت بها وبسط سلطة الدولة على كامل أراضيها بقواها الذاتية وحصر السلاح في يدها وحدها كما ترجمته…
— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafsalam) September 23, 2025
Call for international pressure on 'Israel'
The prime minister also urged the international community to step up its support for the Lebanese army and to pressure "Israel" to withdraw from the points it has under occupation and cease its repeated aggressions, in line with the ceasefire reached in November 2024.
Salam reiterated the Lebanese government's commitment to achieving lasting peace in the region based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which is grounded in justice, international law, and UN resolutions and calls for enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and establish an independent state.
Barrack’s controversial interview
The Lebanese prime minister's remarks came in response to Barrack's September 21 interview with Sky News Arabia, during which the US envoy made a series of provocative statements about Lebanon, "Israel", and West Asia as a whole.
In a revealing interview with Sky News Arabia, US envoy Tom Barrack laid bare the approach at the heart of Trump’s Middle East policy.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 23, 2025
While reaffirming unconditional support for "Israel", even boasting of the billions Washington funnels annually, Barrack admitted the US has "no… pic.twitter.com/lxWzRb4ezp
Barrack dismissed the prospect of peace in the region, saying, "When we say peace, it's an illusion. There's never been peace. There will probably never be peace because everybody's fighting for legitimacy."
On Lebanon, Barrack criticized the political class, saying, "The Lebanese, and I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, all they do is talk." He admitted that Hezbollah had "zero incentive" to disarm while under constant Israeli fire, yet still insisted that Lebanon must act against the group.
Barrack also confirmed that US military aid to Lebanon was intended for domestic purposes rather than confronting "Israel", saying, "We're gonna arm them (the Lebanese army) so they can fight their own people."
These remarks triggered strong backlash. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Barrack's comments as "unacceptable in both form and content," while the Lebanese presidency expressed regret.
The envoy had already drawn criticism in August after dismissively telling Lebanese journalists to "be quiet" and describing their behavior as "animalistic", sparking accusations of colonial arrogance.
