Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday told US ambassador and the head of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L) that the key to stability remains compelling ‘Israel’ to cease its war on Lebanon and withdraw to the international borders.
Speaker Berri received Ambassador Michel Issa, MCG4L Head General Joseph Clearfield, and an accompanying military delegation at his Ain Al-Tineh residence.
The meeting focused on developments in southern Lebanon and the group’s work following the launch of efforts to identify so-called pilot areas and establish a mechanism to verify the Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.
لحظة وصول السفير الاميركي ميشال عيسى والجنرال جوزف كليرفيلد إلى عين التينة للقاء الرئيس بري#لبنان #عين_التينة #المدن pic.twitter.com/X3rXdp9sM3
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“Israel has not ceased its violations and attacks on Lebanon and the South since November 2024,” the Lebanese speaker said, describing the attacks as “ongoing and systematic.”
He said Israeli attacks have destroyed villages, bulldozed fields and agricultural lands, burned forests, and targeted heritage and cultural sites.
Israeli forces carry out wide-scale demolition operation in the southern Lebaese town of Markaba, near Rub Thalatheen. pic.twitter.com/4G3aB48hfA
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Berri stressed that “the key to stability remains compelling Israel to cease its war and withdraw to the international borders.”
Issa, for his part, described the atmosphere surrounding the direct negotiations between the Lebanese authority and the Israeli enemy as “positive,” saying talks would continue although no date had yet been set for the next round.
Asked whether Washington supports any military operation on the Ali Taher Heights, Issa told reporter: “I don’t know; perhaps you know more than I do.”
On the so-called pilot areas, Issa said Lebanese authorities would first determine the status of the areas currently under consideration before discussing additional locations. He added that a list of countries was being discussed for participation in the monitoring mechanism, but no country had yet been selected.
Issa said Clearfield’s visit to Beirut was intended to clarify developments on the ground, particularly for Speaker Berri, and explain the group’s ongoing work.
Separately, Berri signed laws approved during the Parliament’s general legislative session.
Source: Al-Manar English Website