Berri vows Lebanon will never cede ‘an inch’ of land

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reaffirmed on Friday that Lebanon will not relinquish any part of its land under any circumstances. His remarks came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that Israeli forces would continue occupying five elevated positions in southern Lebanon.

Berri emphasized that Lebanon will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and reclaim any occupied land. He stressed that defending Lebanon, particularly the south, is a collective national duty and should be a unifying cause. He added that unity among Lebanese factions is crucial in overcoming any challenges.

Netanyahu declared on Thursday that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from five key locations on the Lebanese side of the border, which he described as “strategic hills” essential for national security. He insisted that Israeli forces would maintain their presence at these positions to protect Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus recently announced that Washington is working to facilitate negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to resolve outstanding border disputes and security concerns. The planned discussions are set to address Israeli military presence at the five disputed sites, the release of Lebanese detainees, and other unresolved territorial disagreements along the Blue Line.

Ceasefire Commitments and Delayed Withdrawal

As part of the ceasefire agreement reached in late November, Hezbollah had agreed to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. In return, Israel was expected to complete its withdrawal from all Lebanese territory by February 18. However, Israeli forces have continued to occupy the five positions they consider strategically significant, prolonging tensions in the region.