The foreign minister of Lebanon stated that the country had no involvement in the decision to declare war.

• The Foreign Minister of Lebanon pledged to maintain the cease-fire brokered by the U.S. and France, which is currently under pressure, and will look for international aid to support the reconstruction of Lebanon.
• Less than 48 hours after the cease-fire agreement was reached, both Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of violating the agreement.
• Since Michel Aoun vacated the presidency in 2022, Lebanon has been without a president, and the current government is operating in a caretaker capacity.

On Thursday, Lebanon's foreign minister defended Hezbollah's presence in the region, stating that his country had no role in the decision to go to war with Israel.

Abdallah Bou Habib, speaking to CNBC's Dan Murphy, pledged to maintain the U.S.-France brokered cease-fire, which is showing signs of stress, and promised to seek foreign funding to aid in Lebanon's reconstruction.

"Although we support Hezbollah, we do not support the war as Lebanese citizens, and the government did not have a say in the decision to go to war. We must admit this," he stated.

Hezbollah, a political party and paramilitary group backed by Iran, has been accused of leading Lebanon, a country with over 5 million people, into a war with Israel that it did not desire. Despite officially holding 13 seats, Hezbollah has a broader alliance that gives it 62 seats in Lebanon's 128-member parliament, and it controls much of the country's borders and airport.

"Iran exerts influence on Lebanon through Hezbollah, but Hezbollah does not control Lebanon," Bou Habib stated to CNBC. "This government is not under Iran's control, although Iran has allies in Lebanon."

Will the cease-fire hold?

Bou Habib stated that Hezbollah will faithfully implement the cease-fire agreement after the French and American-brokered deal, which took effect Wednesday, allowed displaced Israelis and Lebanese to return home after 14 months of intense conflict.

Less than 48 hours after the cease-fire agreement was reached, both Israel and Hezbollah accused each other of violating the agreement.

Lebanon is "prepared, willing, and determined" to implement UN resolution 1701, Bou Habib stated, which aims to ensure Israeli withdrawal from the south and move Hezbollah north of the Litani River. The area under 1701 would fall under Lebanese Armed Forces control and a U.N. peacekeeping force. According to U.S. Envoy Amos Hochstein, who spoke to CNBC on Wednesday, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and Hezbollah from southern Lebanon would occur gradually over the next 60 days, which he hopes will become permanent.

The Lebanese government renewed their dedication to the 1701 resolution, which requires the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

The foreign minister stated that fixing the borders with Israel is necessary to prevent military resistance, as long as Israel continues to occupy land.

According to Lebanese political analyst Ronnie Chatah, the foreign minister is referring to the Shebaa farms, a disputed, limited zone that Syria considers Lebanese and Israel considers occupied, or now annexed. The Golan Heights, Lebanon, took the Syrian line back then. However, having the largest paramilitary force on the planet is not the reason for this.

Political deadlock

Since the war started, Lebanon has been in political deadlock.

The sectarian power-sharing agreement in Lebanon ensures the representation of diverse religious groups, but it has been criticized for causing political deadlock.

Bou Habib stated to CNBC that while he does not assert that all Lebanese trust this government, most Lebanese do.

Rebuilding Lebanon

The Lebanese economy has sustained $8.5 billion in damages due to the conflict, encompassing both physical destruction and economic loss, according to an estimate by the World Bank.

Earlier this month, Lebanon's Economy Minister Amin Salam informed CNBC that the costs of the crisis could reach $20 billion in total losses, affecting not only the economy but also infrastructure and employment.

The World Bank predicts that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon could reduce the country's real GDP growth by at least 6.6% in 2024. Additionally, Salam stated that the embattled economy could experience a contraction of up to 8% to 12% within the next year.

Laila Al Amine, the Country Director for Lebanon at Mercy Corps, stated that the funding challenges for rebuilding efforts in Lebanon are immense and urgent, according to a report by CNBC.

Al Amine stated that the conflict has resulted in significant harm to roads, water facilities, schools, hospitals, and power plants, necessitating a considerable amount of resources, skilled labor, and time for reconstruction. However, funding remains a significant challenge, as most of the promised humanitarian aid has not yet been distributed.

All Gulf countries are providing humanitarian aid to us, as stated by Bou Habib to CNBC.

We did not discuss further assistance regarding reconstruction and rebuilding of infrastructure in Lebanon, but we will soon and see what happens regarding financial aid.

Despite Gulf Arab states aiding in Lebanon's reconstruction after the 2006 war, the country's economic decline and Hezbollah's growing power may discourage the global community and the Middle East from continuing to assist with Lebanon's expensive reconstruction efforts.