Salam condemns Israeli threats to engineer advocating for south reconstruction

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam "strongly" condemned Monday Israeli threats to a Lebanese Engineer advocating for the reconstruction of his community in south Lebanon, re-iterating the government's full commitment to the reconstruction (of war-hit regions) and to the right of all residents of the South to "a safe and sustainable return."

Mazraani is a Lebanese activist and engineer from the southern border town of Houla. He founded the "Gathering of the Residents of the Southern Border Localities" to advocate for the reconstruction of war-hit villages, especially the southern border villages which were badly damaged in the latest Israeli war.

Videos circulated on social media on Sunday showing an Israeli drone broadcasting an audio saying that Mazraani is participating in "Hezbollah’s conspiracy."

"Chase them (Mazraani and Hezbollah) out to take back your land and for reconstruction to begin," the voice said.

Mazraani claims being independent and maintains that his group is purely social and non-political with the main purpose to provide financial assistance to displaced people.

Paliament Speaker Nabih Berri had accused the government of marginalizing south Lebanon and its people and not prioritizing the reconstruction of war-hit villages in order for the residents to return home.

Salam responded that he had visited south Lebanon and that the government has been paying monthly financial aid and rent assistance to families affected by the war and has started necessary maintenance works to restore services in affected areas. He said the government worked on obtaining a $250 million loan from the World Bank to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the war.