Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations
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Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam urges a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and UNSCR 1701 implementation amid rising attacks in South Lebanon.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed on Tuesday that any negotiations aim to implement the ceasefire agreement issued last November, particularly regarding halting Israeli attacks and ensuring a full withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories.
Salam said during his meeting with US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, attended by US chargé d’affaires in Beirut Keith Hanigan, that one of the goals of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (the Mechanism) is also to secure the release of Lebanese prisoners "Israel" is holding.
Salam pointed out that implementing the government’s decision on arms exclusivity, whether south or north of the Litani River, requires accelerating support for the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces through the convening of an international conference dedicated to this purpose.
He also stressed that consolidating stability in the south of the country requires international support to hold a conference focused on economic recovery and reconstruction.
Aoun emphasizes halting Israeli aggression to Ortagus
Earlier today, Ortagus held several meetings with Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during her visit to Beirut, coming from the occupied Palestinian territories, where she met with several Israeli officials on Monday.
The visit comes amid escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon, particularly in the south and the Bekaa Valley, resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous Lebanese citizens since the beginning of this month.
During discussions with Ortagus, the Lebanese president emphasized the significance of activating the "Mechanism" for monitoring the ceasefire reached back in November 2024, implementing UN Resolution No. 1701, and enabling the Lebanese Army to fully deploy to the southern Lebanese border.
Furthermore, President Aoun emphasized the urgent need to enable residents of southern Lebanon to return to their homes and restore their towns and properties, a priority that becomes increasingly critical with the approach of winter.
Two brothers, Hassan and Hussein Suleiman, were killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted the town of al-Bayyadh in southern Lebanon's Tyre district on October 27, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.
A Lebanese civilian was killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car in the coastal town of Naqoura on October 27, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
On October 26, a Lebanese civilian was killed when an Israeli drone targeted a car in the coastal border town of Naqoura in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Al Mayadeen’s correspondent also reported a separate Israeli drone strike on a vehicle along the Nabi Sheet road in the eastern Bekaa region, resulting in another fatality.
These repeated strikes underscore a systemic pattern in "Israel’s" military strategy, reflecting a deliberate policy of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The sustained drone attacks in towns such as al-Bayyadh, Naqoura, and the Bekaa region reveal an alarming consistency in the use of lethal force against non-combatants, highlighting the urgent need for international accountability and protection for Lebanese civilians.
