Berri pledges Hezbollah disarmament south Litani, rejects pilot zones as time waste

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has pledged that Hezbollah will disarm the region south of the Litani River, provided Israel adheres to a ceasefire. In remarks published Monday, Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that he favors a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, district by district, rather than the "pilot zones" he considers a time-consuming approach.

Berri proposed a strict timeline for Israel's withdrawal from southern districts. He aims to avoid getting bogged down in defining geographic borders for pilot zones and disagreeing over their division. He stated that he maintains constant communication with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, despite differing viewpoints. According to Berri, they are united on Lebanon's fundamental objectives: securing Israel's withdrawal from the south, deploying the Lebanese Army there, facilitating the return of displaced residents to their homes, freeing prisoners, and initiating a reconstruction plan with Arab and international support.

"Hezbollah is committed to the ceasefire, Israel is the party violating it," Berri asserted, expressing hope that the truce would hold this time, potentially through American pressure. The speaker's statements come amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and establish a lasting peace in southern Lebanon.

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Hezbollah is committed to the ceasefire, Israel is the party violating it