Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (pictured) said during an interview on state television that the state has to "extend its authority" across all Lebanese territory, just days ahead of the deadline for the Israeli withdrawal as per the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement.
Salam said that on the topic of "areas south of the Litani and north of the Litani, across the entire area of Lebanon" the state needed to "extend its authority through its own forces across" the territory of Lebanon, adding that "we want the Israeli withdrawal to happen … and we will continue to mobilize all diplomatic and political efforts until this withdrawal is achieved.”
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked United States President Donald Trump to extend the February 18 deadline for the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
