Berri Sounds Alarm on Israel’s Escalating Strikes in Lebanon

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has expressed concern over Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon, suggesting that these could escalate into a larger conflict. This was reported in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday. Berri pointed out that Israel’s operations in Lebanon have intensified and expanded in range, with attacks now occurring in areas considerably distant from the Israeli-Lebanese border. He highlighted that these strikes seem to deliberately target civilians and have involved propositions unacceptable to Lebanon, such as demanding Hezbollah’s withdrawal beyond the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers north of the border.

Recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have marked a notable shift in strategy. On Sunday, an attack in the southern village of Kafra resulted in the deaths of a Lebanese Hezbollah fighter and a woman, along with several injuries. Another strike on Saturday led to the deaths of two individuals, including a Hezbollah commander, and two others in a nearby orchard. These incidents indicate a move towards more targeted assassinations by Israel, following over three months of almost daily skirmishes with Hezbollah.

Previously, these clashes were mainly confined to areas close to the border, but recent strikes, including those near the city of Tyre, suggest a broader scope. A significant incident on January 2 involved a presumed Israeli airstrike in a Beirut suburb, killing a top Hamas official, Saleh Arouri. This was the first such strike in Lebanon’s capital since the intense conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Berri’s comments came after his meeting with former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, where they discussed the latest political developments, the ongoing Gaza war, and the situation in southern Lebanon.