Nawaf Salam in Nabatieh: 23 Tenders Launched, as He Calls for ‘One Army, One Decision’
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to Nabatieh on Friday, October 2, 2026, carried both reconstruction and political messages. Salam announced that 23 tenders had been launched as part of the recovery and reconstruction process, with preparations under way for 12 additional tenders during October, while acknowledging that the scale of southern Lebanon’s needs exceeds the state’s ability to shoulder the burden alone.
Speaking at Nabatieh Municipality, Salam linked reconstruction to two broader political and security objectives: achieving a full Israeli withdrawal and rebuilding a “capable and effective” state, stressing that Lebanon needs one state, one army and one decision, particularly when it comes to matters of war and peace.
Salam begins his tour in Kfar Joz
The prime minister began his tour with a visit to the Internal Security Forces barracks in Kfar Joz, accompanied by Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and several other officials.
Salam praised the officers and personnel for their efforts, reaffirming the government’s support and stressing that security and stability are essential for residents of southern Lebanon to return to their towns and homes.
Al-Hajjar, for his part, said the state would remain alongside its citizens, arguing that stability in southern Lebanon is tied to stability across the country and that restoring state authority over Lebanese territory through the army and security forces remains a priority.
Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar said the prime minister’s visit underscored the presence of the state in Nabatieh.
Profile News previously covered Nawaf Salam’s position on military developments in southern Lebanon and the role of the state after UNIFIL.
23 tenders launched, with 12 more planned for October
At Nabatieh Municipality, Salam said this was his third visit to the city since the formation of his government, explaining that his previous trips were part of a practical follow-up to the recovery and reconstruction process rather than ceremonial visits.
He said the government had worked with international institutions to secure the necessary resources and had obtained an initial funding package that allowed it to move from identifying needs toward launching implementation projects.
Salam announced that the Council for Development and Reconstruction had launched 23 tenders covering projects in Nabatieh district, including debris and obstruction removal, road repairs, rehabilitation of shelters, and the provision of ambulances, medical equipment, wireless communications equipment and satellite communications systems.
He added that the council was preparing to launch 12 additional tenders during October, including the rehabilitation of five hospitals, among them Nabatieh Governmental Hospital, as well as the procurement of rescue and firefighting vehicles and projects involving electricity substations and water networks.
New Civil Defense headquarters after debris removal
On Civil Defense, Salam announced that the Council of the South would begin construction of a new headquarters once damage assessments and debris removal are completed, with the foundation stone being laid during the visit.
The project is part of a broader effort to restore public facilities and essential services in the city following damage to institutions and infrastructure in recent months.
Salam: Southern Lebanon’s needs exceed state resources
Addressing residents of Nabatieh and southern Lebanon, Salam acknowledged that the scale of the crisis and reconstruction needs exceeds the Lebanese state’s ability to carry the burden on its own.
He said his responsibility required him to speak frankly about that reality as the government seeks additional resources and external financing to continue recovery projects.
Salam said the needs of southern Lebanon had been raised during his recent meetings in New York and Washington, including discussions with the United Nations secretary-general, U.S. officials and the president of the World Bank, as part of efforts to secure additional support for reconstruction.
State institutions return to Nabatieh
Salam stressed that restoring state institutions to full operation is an essential part of bringing normal life back to the city and helping residents remain in their communities.
He announced the completion of rehabilitation work at the Nabatieh government complex through an initiative by the Husseini Club, as well as the reopening of the State Security office and civil registry department and the reopening of the General Security center following rehabilitation. The Justice Palace is expected to reopen soon.
His tour also included several government facilities and Nabatieh’s market, combining security, administrative, public-service and economic dimensions.
Profile News has previously covered international efforts to support the Lebanese Army and strengthen state institutions in southern Lebanon.
Full Israeli withdrawal among government priorities
Salam said the government’s priorities for southern Lebanon include ending Israeli military operations, achieving a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, ensuring the safe and dignified return of residents to their homes, restoring livelihoods and bringing life back to affected cities, towns and villages.
He said reaching those objectives requires parallel efforts to mobilize external support while rebuilding state institutions and strengthening their ability to carry out their responsibilities.
‘One state, one army and one decision’
In one of the strongest political messages of the visit, Salam said what he described as Lebanon’s “real guarantee” lies in pursuing a full Israeli withdrawal while rebuilding a capable and effective state for all its citizens.
He said Lebanon needs a state with “one army and one decision,” particularly regarding decisions of war and peace.
Salam linked that approach to reducing the risk of Lebanon being drawn into another war or facing further rounds of escalation and military operations.
The remarks are consistent with the government’s stated policy on the state’s monopoly over arms and the authority of constitutional institutions over sovereign decisions, foremost among them decisions of war and peace.
Salam rejects waiting for a regional settlement
The prime minister also addressed calls to wait for a broader regional settlement before resolving Lebanon’s outstanding issues, saying such an approach is not a practical option for the country.
He said a regional settlement could take years, might never materialize, and even if it did, it would not necessarily align with Lebanon’s interests.
Salam raised the question of what would happen if another regional war erupted and whether Lebanon and the south should once again bear the cost while displaced residents remained away from their homes, Israeli control continued over Lebanese territory, and issues involving detainees and reconstruction remained unresolved.
He called on Lebanese citizens to rally around state institutions, saying the strength of the state is tied to national unity and that state institutions provide the central framework for safeguarding security, stability and the future of coming generations.
From managing damage to reconstruction
Salam’s visit reflects an effort to move the southern Lebanon file from managing the aftermath of conflict and the initial return of residents toward a broader phase involving infrastructure rehabilitation, the restoration of state institutions and the launch of reconstruction and public-service projects.
At the same time, the prime minister made clear that the scale of destruction and need means external financing will remain an essential component of any large-scale recovery plan, alongside what the state and its institutions can deliver with their current resources.
With 23 tenders already launched and 12 additional tenders being prepared for October, the reopening of government institutions and a new Civil Defense headquarters project, Nawaf Salam’s visit to Nabatieh carried a dual message: practical reconstruction steps are beginning, while the stability of southern Lebanon is being tied to the restoration and strengthening of state authority and institutions.
