Salam vows to continue working to extend state authority north and south of Litani

As lawmakers convened Wednesday for the second day in Parliament to debate the government's policies, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed that the government will continue working on extending the state’s authority north and south of the Litani river.

"I have listened to the MPs' views and interventions, and I will take all criticisms seriously. We are determined to continue our work despite the difficulties and obstacles," Salam said, adding that the government is committed to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territories and stop its aggressions.

Salam said the army has made significant progress in extending state sovereignty over territories south of the Litani River and that the government is determined to continue working to extend the state’s sovereignty over areas north of the Litani as well.

During the plenary session Wednesday, Nawaf's government won a vote of confidence proposed by the Free Patriotic chief Jebran Bassil. 69 MPs gave a vote of confidence to the government, nine FPM MPs voted against it, and four MPs abstained.