Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said that the Americans had informed him that the Israeli enemy will withdraw from South Lebanon by February 18, but will keep occupation troops in five positions, adding that he rejected the issue categorically, according to the official National News Agency.
“I refused to discuss any extension of the withdrawal timeline. It is the Americans’ responsibility to enforce the withdrawal; otherwise, they would be causing the biggest setback for the government,” Berri told reporters in the Lebanese village of Ain al-Tineh after meeting with US General Jasper Jeffers, head of a five-member monitoring committee on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, in the presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson.
“If the (Israeli) occupation remains, time will tell. This is the responsibility of the Lebanese state, and the army is fully carrying out its duties south of the Litani River. As for the area north of the Litani, that matter is for the Lebanese people and a national dialogue table to discuss a defense strategy,” he said.
The Parliament Speaker stressed that “Hezbollah is fully committed, but the continuation of the occupation means that the Israelis will exercise freedom of movement and aggression within Lebanese territory, and this is completely unacceptable.”
The Israeli occupation forces continued on Thursday violating the ceasefire agreement in South Lebanon few days before the extended withdrawal deadline.
