Salam meets US congressional delegation
8/25/2025 3:17:00 PM
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with at the Grand Serail with a US Congressional delegation led by Rep. Darine Lahoud and Rep. Steve Cohen, in the presence of US Ambassador Lisa Johnson.
Lahoud praised Lebanon’s steps toward state sovereignty and arms control, judicial and financial reforms, and reaffirmed his efforts in Congress to ensure continued support for the Lebanese Army. Talks also highlighted the importance of renewing UNIFIL’s mandate.
In turn, PM Salam stressed the need for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory to enable full army deployment in the South and reaffirmed that the army is a pillar of national unity and stability.
Salam also received Mufti Bakr Al-Rifai of Baalbek-Hermel, who emphasized institutional respect and urged resolving disputes within state frameworks, praising the Prime Minister’s leadership amid national challenges.
MP Bilal Al-Hashimi also met with Salam, voicing support for the government’s decision to restrict arms to the state. He called for urgent reform across sectors—especially in education—urging resolution of Lebanese University staffing issues and rejection of the decision to reduce public school days. He also raised concerns about border security at Masnaa and called for speeding up trials of Islamist detainees to close this sensitive file.
Lahoud praised Lebanon’s steps toward state sovereignty and arms control, judicial and financial reforms, and reaffirmed his efforts in Congress to ensure continued support for the Lebanese Army. Talks also highlighted the importance of renewing UNIFIL’s mandate.
In turn, PM Salam stressed the need for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory to enable full army deployment in the South and reaffirmed that the army is a pillar of national unity and stability.
Salam also received Mufti Bakr Al-Rifai of Baalbek-Hermel, who emphasized institutional respect and urged resolving disputes within state frameworks, praising the Prime Minister’s leadership amid national challenges.
MP Bilal Al-Hashimi also met with Salam, voicing support for the government’s decision to restrict arms to the state. He called for urgent reform across sectors—especially in education—urging resolution of Lebanese University staffing issues and rejection of the decision to reduce public school days. He also raised concerns about border security at Masnaa and called for speeding up trials of Islamist detainees to close this sensitive file.