Lebanese Parliament Speaker Warns US Hezbollah Disarmament Plans Threaten Ceasefire

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, has strongly opposed the US-backed proposal to disarm Hezbollah, warning that it risks undermining the November 2024 ceasefire with Israel. Berri called for a calm, national dialogue based on Lebanon's constitution and the Taif Agreement to determine the fate of Hezbollah's weapons, which he described as a source of national pride and defense rather than a sectarian issue. He emphasized that the Lebanese Army should remain a key protector but not the sole defender of the country. Berri criticized Israel for violating the ceasefire over 4,800 times, including near-daily airstrikes, and accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's expansionist rhetoric of threatening Lebanese territory. US officials expect disarmament before Israeli withdrawal, but Hezbollah insists it has already disarmed in the south and demands Israeli pullback from occupied hilltops. Berri warned against inflammatory rhetoric and foreign pressure, calling instead for unity, cooperation, and adherence to existing national and international agreements to preserve peace and sovereignty.