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.

The mass movement began after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting sustained Israeli air attacks and a ground offensive. Villages across southern and eastern Lebanon, along with Beirut’s southern suburbs, have been largely emptied, pushing civilians into the capital in numbers equivalent to roughly one-fifth of the country’s population, according to government estimates.

Beirut’s infrastructure has come under severe strain as displaced families crowd into available spaces, including schools converted into shelters, mosques, storefronts and public parks. A sprawling tent settlement has emerged along the city’s waterfront, while others have set up makeshift shelters along the coastal corniche and near Horsh Beirut park.

Residents described deteriorating living conditions, with many lacking access to basic sanitation, electricity and adequate shelter. Some families have resorted to sleeping in vehicles or under tarpaulins, while heavy rains have flooded encampments, exacerbating health risks.

The United Nations refugee agency said the scale and speed of the displacement are without precedent in Lebanon’s recent history. Spokesperson Dalal Harb noted that the figure of one million displaced likely understates the true number, as many have not formally registered with authorities.

Government efforts to accommodate those fleeing have included converting hundreds of public buildings into shelters and establishing temporary facilities in large venues such as sports stadiums. Aid groups have also repurposed damaged infrastructure, including a slaughterhouse affected by the 2020 Beirut port explosion, to house displaced populations.

Despite these measures, capacity remains insufficient, forcing large numbers to remain in informal settlements. Many displaced families have opted to stay in Beirut rather than relocate to northern areas where space may be more available, citing concerns over losing proximity to their homes and communities.

Urban specialists warn that the visible scale of displacement is reshaping the city’s social and physical landscape, creating new pressures on public services and heightening tensions among residents.

The influx has also revived concerns over Lebanon’s fragile sectarian balance, with the displacement of large numbers of Shiite residents from southern regions and Beirut’s suburbs raising fears of demographic shifts in the capital.

Humanitarian agencies say needs are escalating rapidly as the conflict shows no sign of abating. Israeli forces have signaled the possibility of advancing further into Lebanese territory, raising the prospect of additional displacement.

Aid officials warned that conditions for those already displaced could deteriorate further without sustained assistance and a de-escalation in hostilities.