Zaidi calls for economic investment in Iraq as Salam urges Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

What Happened

At the UN General Assembly on Friday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon cannot build a unified, sovereign state unless Israel withdraws from territory it occupied earlier this year. Salam demanded implementation of the US-mediated ceasefire framework 'within a clear timetable and with a verification mechanism,' Israeli withdrawal to internationally recognised borders under the 1949 General Armistice Agreement and UN Resolution 1701, release of detainees, and return of displaced people. Citing figures in the article, Israel now occupies more than 600 square kilometres of Lebanese territory along the northern border; Israeli forces have killed nearly 9,000 Lebanese since 2023 and more than one million people in the south have fled their homes. The Times of Israel reported in June that since 7 October 2023 Israel has seized more than 1,000 square kilometres across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria and 'has no plans to withdraw.' Salam also said Lebanon's national forces must hold weapons 'over the entirety of its territory, with weapons held by the state alone,' referring to Hezbollah's Iran-financed military power. Separately, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi used his UNGA address to call for international economic investment in Iraq, saying Iraq aims to move beyond a rentier economy and become a global hub for energy production. He highlighted oil production increases, gas field development, refining capacity, and an energy corridor linking Iraq with Turkey, Jordan, and Syria. Zaidi said his government is prioritising anti-corruption and consolidation of weapons from Iran-backed militias, and that the end of the international coalition's mission marks a shift from military to economic cooperation.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Salam's UN speech frames Lebanon's sovereignty as conditional on ending Israeli occupation and dismantling non-state military power, at a moment when Israel has seized territory across multiple fronts and Washington mediates a contested ceasefire. His appeal for weapons held by the state alone directly challenges Hezbollah, while Iraq's parallel message signals a regional pivot from military to economic alliances and an attempt to reduce Iran-backed militia influence. The two speeches illustrate pressures on US-friendly Arab governments: managing Israeli military actions and Iranian-linked armed groups while seeking international investment and reconstruction.

Watch For

Watch whether the US-mediated Lebanon-Israel negotiations, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, produce a clear withdrawal timetable and verification mechanism; whether Israel withdraws from the more than 600 square kilometres it occupies in Lebanon; whether the Lebanese Armed Forces extend authority and Hezbollah weapons are consolidated; and whether reconstruction and return of displaced people in the south begin. Also monitor Iraq's announced oil and gas development plans and the Turkey-Jordan-Syria energy corridor, as well as any further UN or international aid pledges following Salam's request.