"The Lebanese state is trying to regain sovereignty over all of the territory of Lebanon. That means disarming Hezbollah, which is Iran's main ally and main proxy group in the Middle East. And it also means negotiating with Israel for Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanon from areas they've been occupying for the last few months."
June 30, 2026 - In a recent interview with CNN, ATFL Senior Policy Advisor Paul Salem discussed the critical diplomatic frameworks currently in motion. A sovereign, stable Lebanon requires the state to hold an absolute monopoly on the use of force.
Salem highlighted that while external diplomacy is moving forward, Lebanon must focus on crucial domestic priorities:
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- Advancing the phased deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the south
- Securing a diplomatic framework for Israeli withdrawal
- Rebuilding state institutions and economic resilience following the 2019 financial collapse
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To understand why Lebanon is on a hopeful, yet fragile, track toward long-term stability and recovery: