Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday formed a new cabinet made up of specialized and clean-handed ministers, ending past dominance by Hezbollah and its allies, with the mission of introducing needed reforms and securing Israel's complete withdrawal from south Lebanon.

Lebanon formed a new government on Saturday, following unusually direct U.S. intervention in the process and in a step intended to bring the country closer to accessing reconstruction funds following a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on Saturday signed a decree to form a new government after more than two years of political stalemate and a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah. Newly elected Aoun appointed Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to head the new government after years of economic stagnation blamed on corruption and mismanagement.