After thirty months, Lebanon has a prime minister. Nawaf Salam has gained the support of key parties, following a similar process to that which led to Joseph Aoun being elected president. Salam faces a challenging task, with expectations for results from the people of Lebanon, and regional powers, as well as France and the United States.

The biography of the 71-year-old Nawaf Salam is impressive. Among other roles, Salam returns to the position of prime minister from his previous role as presiding judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), having also held other significant positions.
However, this is no guarantee of Salam’s success—not because he lacks the expertise to lead Lebanon’s government, but because his appointment is the result of domestic and regional dynamics. Salam was chosen as the most acceptable solution for Sunni, Christian, and Shia factions in Lebanon, with prior backing from Saudi Arabia, France, and the United States.
Lebanon’s complex political system, where the prime minister is predominantly Sunni, the president is Christian, and the parliament is led by a politician loyal to Shia parties, is only part of the problem. Salam must also balance regional interests, as Lebanon finds itself in dire need of assistance, particularly economic aid, to prevent the country from descending into chaos.
Regional Implications
Lebanon has faced economic difficulties for the past decade, largely due to regional developments. The country has taken in millions of refugees from Syria, lost revenue from Western sanctions on Damascus, and since October 7, 2024, has been a battleground for conflicts between Shia Hezbollah and Israel. Additionally, Lebanon still bears the scars of its civil war.
Arab media report that Salam was favored by Washington, Paris, and Riyadh, in exchange for promises of financial and other aid to rebuild Lebanon. A lack of Hezbollah support previously blocked his path to the premiership. It was critical in 2022 when the party used its majority to appoint Najib Mikati as acting prime minister, bypassing Salam.
This time, after prolonged negotiations and tactical delays like late arrivals to parliamentary sessions, Hezbollah agreed to Joseph Aoun’s presidential appointment and Salam’s, with the support of its allies. Media close to Hezbollah report that the duo has committed to rebuilding Shia homes in southern Lebanon, ensuring Israel refrains from future attacks, and maintaining Lebanon’s religious and sectarian balance.
Those critical of Hezbollah argue the movement agreed to these terms after suffering significant losses in the war against Israel and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. According to them, Hezbollah supported Aoun and, by extension, Salam, to preserve its current positions, regroup, and seek new corridors to Iran.
Truce Expiration and Lebanon’s Reconstruction
The destruction of Hezbollah remains a goal for Israel and the U.S., with various scenarios attempted to weaken the group, including specialized warfare by Israel.
One of the main questions now is how Salam will address Hezbollah, considering the party’s armed wing is significantly stronger than Lebanon’s U.S.-backed army. Washington, Tel Aviv, Paris, and Riyadh want the group disarmed, which Hezbollah refuses. Officials and supporters of Hezbollah argue that southern Lebanon would be occupied by Israel, as recently seen in Syria, the moment they lay down their arms.
At the same time, Salam is expected to implement reforms and strengthen Lebanon’s economy. With backing from multiple countries and an impressive career in various fields, Salam, who comes from a family with a history of Lebanese prime ministers, is seen as capable of fulfilling these tasks.
Reforms aimed at strengthening Lebanon’s economy will likely garner support from all factions, but progress may stall on other contentious issues, such as the influence of foreign powers in Beirut, relations with Israel, Iran, or the new Syrian authorities.
Announcing a “new Lebanon,” Salam declared yesterday that he would “save, reform, and rebuild” the country, pledging unity—a message directed at Hezbollah supporters. The Shia movement agreed to Aoun’s appointment, and its allies supported Salam, ensuring him a parliamentary majority.
Significantly, Salam has stated his commitment to fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the withdrawal of all forces from southern Lebanon except for the Lebanese army. This would require Hezbollah to withdraw, as well as Israel, which Salam labeled an “enemy,” demanding its complete withdrawal from “every inch of our occupied land.”
However, Hezbollah and Israel have unfinished business. The truce they signed expires in less than two weeks, and without a new agreement, conflict looms. Israel will likely seize any opportunity to strike its adversary, with Western backing.
The West also supports Salam. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Beirut. Following Aoun’s election, Saudi Arabia announced plans to restore a hotel damaged in the 2020 Beirut port explosion and invited Lebanon’s new president to visit Riyadh. According to the truce between Hezbollah and Israel, U.S. forces have been tasked with monitoring some aspects of its implementation and will undoubtedly remain close to Salam.
Praised by Lebanese media as a “pro-Palestinian” politician with strong Western ties and a distinguished reputation, Salam is poised to confront the delicate challenge of maintaining the neutrality that made him a consensus choice for the premiership. His initial significant decisions could inevitably align him with a particular political, sectarian, or religious faction. When this happens, the underlying agreements among Lebanon’s key players may surface, revealing whether Salam has the capacity and strategy to address the nation’s multifaceted challenges effectively.
This article was previously published on the news portal nap.ba.
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