Berri to Hariri: Dissociation Policy Doesn't Entail Accepting Syria Strike

Speaker Nabih Berri announced Wednesday that Lebanon's so-called dissociation policy does not involve “accepting” a military strike on Syria.

“Lebanon rejects the aggression against Syria that is being planned by some Western countries with funding from some Arab countries,” Berri said in an interview published by the website of al-Akhbar newspaper.

He warned that “any use of the Lebanese airspace” in the potential strikes would be a “blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty.”

“Lebanon cannot accept the use of its airspace for an attack on Syria or any other brotherly Arab country,” Berri stressed.

He noted that “those who call for dissociation in this case would be contributing to the aggression against Syria.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Saad Hariri had announced that “Lebanon abides by the dissociation policy in light of the possible U.S. strike on Syria.”

“Our stance is clear: dissociating ourselves and protecting the country from the repercussions of what's happening in the region,” Hariri added.