Beirut: Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, on Monday chaired the government’s regular ministerial meeting, focusing on efforts to facilitate the return of displaced residents to southern Lebanon. Ministers reviewed support for municipalities, local economic sectors, education ahead of the new school year, and ongoing road clearance and rubble removal.

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, preliminary estimates put the direct cost of the war at $3-4 billion, excluding indirect economic losses and damage from the earlier support war. Salam instructed ministers to accelerate measures facilitating returns, restore essential services, and strengthen inter-ministerial coordination ahead of the reconstruction phase.