A government jet carrying Prime Minister Nawaf Salam landed at the airport for the opening ceremony. Officials said commercial flights are expected to begin within weeks, with initial routes planned to Türkiye, the UAE, and later Greece, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Located near the Syrian border in Lebanon’s northern Akkar region, the airport is expected to ease pressure on Beirut’s main airport and support economic development in one of the country’s poorest regions.

The airport is named after former president-elect Rene Mouawad, who was assassinated shortly after his election in 1989.

The national holiday marks May 25, 2000, when Israeli forces ended a 22-year presence in southern Lebanon following years of conflict. This year’s commemoration came amid continuing hostilities along the Israeli-Lebanese border, prompting Lebanese officials to emphasize the unresolved security situation in the south.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the anniversary should serve as a moment of national solidarity with families affected by the ongoing conflict, including those who have lost relatives, been wounded, displaced or remain in frontline communities.

In a statement posted on social media, Salam said Lebanon would reserve celebrations until Israeli forces had fully withdrawn from Lebanese territory and displaced residents could safely return to their homes.
President Joseph Aoun described the 2000 withdrawal as the result of sacrifices made by residents of southern Lebanon, calling the anniversary a symbol of national dignity.

He said, however, that the occasion was being observed amid continued military operations in southern villages and what he characterized as ongoing violations of international resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to securing a complete Israeli withdrawal through diplomatic negotiations while emphasizing the role of the Lebanese state and armed forces in safeguarding national sovereignty.

The statements came as tensions remained elevated in southern Lebanon. Residents of 10 villages were ordered to evacuate on Monday as bombardments continued and concerns mounted over a broader escalation along the border region.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 18 people and wounded 21 others. The ministry said the cumulative death toll linked to the conflict had reached 3,151.

The anniversary has long held symbolic significance in Lebanon’s modern history, marking the end of Israel’s military presence in most of southern Lebanon after more than two decades. This year, however, the observance reflected the extent to which renewed cross-border hostilities have reshaped the country’s political and security landscape.

Lebanese leaders used the occasion to underscore both the legacy of the 2000 withdrawal and the challenges posed by the current conflict, as military operations and civilian displacement continue to affect communities across the south.

Bukhari made the remarks during meetings in Beirut with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Deputy Head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, and Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, as Saudi Arabia continues diplomatic engagement over Lebanon’s political and security crisis.

During his meeting with Derian, Bukhari said Riyadh remained committed to Lebanon’s unity and was working diplomatically to support solutions that reinforce security, stability and prosperity while backing Lebanese state institutions.

He said the Taif Accord, which ended Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war and restructured the country’s political system, remained the backbone of any sustainable national settlement.

Derian praised Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting Lebanon’s stability under what he described as exceptional circumstances and said rebuilding the Lebanese state was the only path toward national recovery.

He called for restoring state authority across all Lebanese territory, limiting weapons to the Lebanese army and reaffirming commitment to the Taif Agreement while strengthening national unity.

Derian also welcomed diplomatic efforts by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, supported by Arab and international partners, to end the war in Lebanon and secure a broader political settlement.

In a separate meeting with Al-Khatib, Bukhari expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future and said preserving civil peace required agreement among the country’s three top leaders on a shared national path.He praised Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for what he described as wisdom and experience during critical political moments.

Bukhari also recalled late former parliament speaker Hussein Husseini, often regarded as a principal architect of the Taif Agreement, citing his well-known remark that “the alternative to Taif is implementing Taif.”

Al-Khatib said Saudi Arabia played an important role in maintaining civil peace in Lebanon and stressed that his side did not seek a separate political project.He added that Arab and Islamic states needed greater coordination to confront regional instability and said Saudi Arabia was central to any broader effort to strengthen regional cooperation while respecting national sovereignty.

Bukhari later met Abi Al-Muna to discuss continuing military operations in the region, efforts to stop the war in Lebanon, and Saudi diplomatic initiatives aimed at helping the country navigate its political and economic crisis.

The talks also covered the recent visit to Lebanon by Saudi Foreign Ministry adviser Yazid bin Farhan and broader efforts to preserve national unity and avoid further escalation.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 203 people were killed and more than 1,000 wounded in widespread Israeli strikes on Wednesday, marking the deadliest day in over five weeks of renewed fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Netanyahu said Israel was continuing to strike Hezbollah targets with “force, precision, and determination,” adding that operations would persist until security is restored in northern Israel.

The Israeli military said it was also conducting ground operations in southern Lebanon and had struck crossings used by Hezbollah fighters, along with weapons storage sites and command centers.The escalation comes despite a ceasefire announced earlier this week by U.S. President Donald Trump following heightened tensions with Iran.

Israel and Washington have said the truce does not apply to Lebanon, while other countries have called for its expansion to include the country.Lebanon’s cabinet moved to tighten state control over security, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam directing authorities to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions.

The government had previously banned Hezbollah’s military activities, though the group has continued operations.Iran warned that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah would carry “explicit costs and strong responses,” as diplomatic efforts to resolve the broader conflict remained uncertain.

Tehran has said no agreement would be reached while strikes on Lebanon continue.The Israeli military said it had killed a relative of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in recent strikes, identifying him as a close aide involved in the group’s operations.

Hezbollah said it had resumed attacks on Israeli positions after initially indicating it would pause operations in line with the ceasefire, firing across the border and targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Rescue teams continued searching for survivors under rubble in Beirut and other affected areas after strikes hit densely populated neighborhoods, many without prior warning, according to local accounts.

The conflict has also intensified pressure on global energy markets, with disruptions linked to the broader regional crisis pushing oil prices sharply higher and raising concerns about supply stability.

The latest escalation, triggered amid a broader regional conflict involving Iran, is widely seen as potentially the most destabilising crisis since Lebanon’s 1975–90 civil war, exacerbating long-standing fractures across its multi-sectarian society.

Israel bombardment and evacuation orders across southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs and eastern strongholds have displaced more than one million people, the majority from the Shi’ite community aligned with Hezbollah.

Many have sought refuge in Christian and Druze-majority areas, where tensions have risen sharply, with some residents blaming Hezbollah for provoking the conflict in support of Tehran. Local authorities have tightened vetting procedures for displaced families seeking accommodation, citing fears that individuals linked to Hezbollah could become targets for Israeli strikes.

Clashes have already been reported. In one incident, residents in a predominantly Christian area north of Beirut confronted displaced families after debris from an intercepted Iranian missile landed nearby.

A foreign official described the displacement crisis as “a ticking bomb,” warning that prolonged inability for displaced populations to return home could severely strain communal relations.

Tensions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese state are intensifying. The government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun has banned Hezbollah’s military wing, called for talks with Israel and demanded the departure of Iran’s ambassador.Hezbollah officials have responded with sharp rhetoric.

Senior figure Mahmoud Qmati accused the government of acting like collaborators, drawing comparisons to Vichy France during World War Two, and warned of potential escalation, though he later said his remarks were misinterpreted.

Druze lawmaker Wael Abu Faour said political divisions and “defiant rhetoric” were heightening fears for internal stability.

Military pressure and strategic stakesIsrael has threatened to inflict Gaza-like destruction and signalled plans to establish a “security zone” extending to the Litani River, effectively preventing large numbers of displaced Shi’ites from returning to southern areas until northern Israel’s security is assured.

An Israeli military official said evacuation orders had focused on Shi’ite villages, while Christian areas remained largely unaffected, a distinction critics say risks reinforcing sectarian perceptions of the conflict.Israeli authorities maintain their operations target only Hezbollah and reject accusations of acting against specific civilian groups.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah retains a military capability that surpasses Lebanon’s national army, complicating efforts by the state to assert control. The group’s rapid redeployment to southern frontlines has further undermined confidence in government authority.

Lebanese politicians warn that the war could reshape the country’s political order. Christian lawmaker Alain Aoun said the longstanding coexistence between state institutions and Hezbollah’s armed wing may be nearing its end.

“The coexistence between the state and Hezbollah arms which we witnessed for decades is nearing its end in one way or another,” he said, pointing to potentially far-reaching consequences for Lebanon’s political system.

Hezbollah officials, however, signal they expect the government to reverse its decisions once the conflict subsides, framing the confrontation with Israel as a priority over internal disputes.

With Israeli officials indicating operations could continue beyond the wider regional conflict, and proposals under discussion involving curbs on Iranian support to Hezbollah, Lebanon’s trajectory remains closely tied to developments across the Middle East.