Lebanon’s prime minister says only the state’s armed forces can defend the nation

Lebanon’s new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has delivered his government policy statement, in which he said that only the country’s armed forces should defend the nation in case of war, the Associated Press reported.

Salam said on Tuesday that the government asserts that Lebanon has the right to defend itself in case of “aggression” and only the state has the right to have weapons. He also said that the government takes measures to liberate land occupied by Israel “through its forces only.”

Salam’s statement came as his government has taken steps to sideline Hezbollah and Iran, in a tilt towards the US and Gulf states.