Lebanon Parliament Speaker: If Israel withdraws from the south, Hezbollah will also withdraw

Nabih Berri, the speaker of Lebanon's Parliament and a figure close to Hezbollah, has stated that the militant group would withdraw from southern Lebanon if Israel reciprocates by pulling its forces back. Berri, who has often served as a mediator between Hezbollah and external parties, indicated his agreement for Hezbollah to withdraw south of the Litani River, contingent on an Israeli withdrawal.

This statement comes as a recent ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States between Israel and the Lebanese government, has drawn criticism from Berri. He described the agreement as unfair, asserting that it should have included "unconditional" terms for a ceasefire across land, sea, and air. The current agreement, according to Berri, does not meet this standard.

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I agree to the withdrawal of Hezbollah from south of the Litani River in parallel with the withdrawal of Israel.

Berri's willingness to discuss Hezbollah's withdrawal is notable, as it marks a potential shift or at least an openness to de-escalation under specific conditions. His close ties to the group lend weight to his pronouncements, suggesting a possible pathway for implementing the terms of the ceasefire more broadly.

Despite the potential for de-escalation outlined by Berri, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue in southern Lebanon. Reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre resulted in seven deaths between the night of April 4 and the morning of April 5. Further shelling in the Tyre suburbs on April 5 also led to multiple fatalities, according to Lebanese media.

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The ceasefire agreement should have stipulated unconditional ceasefire on land, sea and air.