Berri Commends Bassil’s Reaction to Israel's Missile Claims

Speaker Nabih Berri commended the reactions of caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil following Israeli allegations that Hizbullah has missile sites near Beirut’s airport.

“Well done. This move is needed and necessary,” said Berri, adding that “the claims are dangerous and must not be disregarded or addressed lightly. A national stand is necessary to address it.”

“It is shameful for this to happen while we are distracted with little things and ministerial portfolios,” added the Speaker referring to the government formation delay.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry invited all foreign ambassadors in Lebanon to a meeting Monday afternoon at its premises to declare the Ministry’s response to the allegations of (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the missile sites.

On Thursday, during his address before the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu claimed that Hizbullah has positioned three missile sites near Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport.

Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adrai meanwhile published pictures of the alleged sites on Twitter.

He said the sites include the football stadium of the Hizbullah-affiliated al-Ahed club, another site near the airport and the Ouzai fishermen's harbor.

“Displaying photographs from the podium of the United Nations General Assembly is a prelude to canceling the Iranian nuclear deal,” said Berri.