Berri: We will not hand over weapons now

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Hezbollah will not hand over its weapons before Israel fulfills its ceasefire agreement obligations.

“We will not hand over the weapons now before the implementation of the terms requested from the enemy” as per the ceasefire agreement, Berri said in an interview with the Asas Media news portal.

“Our weapons are our cards which we will not give up without an actual implementation of the ceasefire agreement and consequently heading to a dialogue over their fate,” Berri added.

The Speaker also expressed support for dialogue between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah, but added that “it is also important to press the enemy to implement its ceasefire agreement obligations.”

“We have implemented what’s requested from us and no one doubts that. As for (Israel), it has not. This is certainly the responsibility of the Americans and this also means that we don’t hand over all our cards,” Berri added.

“What’s requested from us are two points that have been accomplished by Lebanon, which are the army’s deployment in the South and Hezbollah’s withdrawal from it, and ever since (Hezbollah) has not fire a single gunshot,” the Speaker went on to say.

“Israel must cease fire completely and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory, both of which have not happened, and Israel has instead doubled its attacks and airstrikes. Let it at least halt its fire,” Berri added.