Lebanon has formed its first full-fledged government since 2022, ending a prolonged deadlock, with Nawaf Salam assuming the role of Prime Minister. President Joseph Aoun confirmed in a statement that he accepted the resignation of the previous caretaker government and signed a decree appointing Prime Minister Salam’s new administration.

 

 

Nawaf Salam, a seasoned diplomat and former president of the International Court of Justice, is committed to addressing Lebanon’s long-standing challenges. In a speech, Mr. Salam said that his priorities include judicial reforms, stabilizing the battered economy, and securing political and economic stability in a country that has faced decades of crises. Mr. Salam also pledged to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement that ended the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in late November.

 

 

He emphasized his intention to ensure Israeli forces withdraw from all Lebanese territory and to lead reconstruction efforts in areas devastated by the war. The new cabinet, comprising 24 ministers evenly split between Christian and Muslim sects, was formed in less than a month after Mr. Salam’s appointment. Meanwhile, tensions remain high, as six people were killed and two injured in an Israeli drone strike yesterday in Janata, near the eastern border with Syria, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.