Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, has used a tour of areas near the border with Israel that suffered wide destruction during the 14-month Israel- Hezbollah war to call for an Israeli withdrawal and promised residents of border villages a safe return to their homes and reconstruction, Al Jazeera reports.

“This is the first real working day of the government. We salute the army and its martyrs,” Salam said in the southern port city of Tyre while meeting residents of the border village of Dheira.

“We promise you a safe return to your homes as soon as possible.”

The government is committed to the reconstruction of destroyed homes, which “is not a promise but a personal commitment by myself and the government,” Salam added.