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Lebanon on ‘edge of total collapse’ warns minister

Lebanon’s economy minister says the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel risks getting ‘out of control’

Lebanon’s economy and trade minister has told the Â鶹ԼÅÄ that the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel risks getting ‘out of control’ and could plunge the country into further chaos.

Speaking to HARDtalk, Amin Salam said, ‘economically, politically, socially… we cannot hold or carry that burden of this war because Lebanon is at the edge of total collapse.’

In recent years, Lebanon has suffered from political dysfunction, entrenched corruption and a deep economic crisis. Mr Salam is part of caretaker government trying to turn around the country’s fortunes.

But Lebanon is also beset by external factors. Iran arms and finances the powerful Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which Israel sees as a serious military threat on its northern border. Amid the escalating regional tensions since Hamas’s assault on Israel last October and the ensuing conflict in Gaza, violence has intensified on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. Israel has carried out daily missile strikes in response to Hezbollah rocket-fire.

Mr Salam said he did not believe Lebanon was receiving sufficient support from the international community. ‘All the nations that were trying to help Lebanon have taken a little bit of a backseat the past few weeks,’ he said. ‘The diplomatic movement that we have seen few months ago is not as obvious today.’

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