Report: Berri's advice to Hezbollah to talk to Aoun dispelled its concerns and suspicion

President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah “have started to exchange positive messages” aimed at reassuring the group and “dispelling its concerns as well as its suspicion over the election of Aoun as president,” Lebanese political sources said.

In remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, the sources attributed the progress in Aoun’s relation with Hezbollah to a “positive role” played by Speaker Nabih Berri.

“Speaker Berri, being Hezbollah’s big brother as described by Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem, had advised it to position itself behind the state,” the sources said.

Berri also “advised Hezbollah to prepare for a dialogue with Aoun over the monopolization of arms and absorbing them within a national security strategy for Lebanon,” the sources added.