Berri urges response to Barrack's remarks, says 'all hopes' pinned on army

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday urged an “official Lebanese stance” on the latest alarming remarks by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, saying what he said about “the Lebanese government, army and resistance” is rejected and “contradicts with what he had previously said.”

Paying homage to those who were killed in Israel’s 2024 war on Lebanon, in a statement marking its first anniversary, Berri reiterated “adherence to the ceasefire agreement to which Lebanon through its president, government and resistance have committed since the first moments it went into effect on November 27.”

He added that Israel is meanwhile “continuing its violations and disavowal of all the commitments stipulated by the ceasefire agreement in terms of withdrawing from the territory it occupied, releasing the Lebanese captives and allowing the Lebanese Army to deploy with UNIFIL’s support all the way to the international border in the South Litani region.”

Berri also stressed that “the Lebanese Army’s commander, officers and soldiers are our sons and are the bet on which we pin all our hopes and aspirations for defending our land and sovereignty in the face of any aggression targeting Lebanon,” adding that the army “will never be a border guard for Israel.”

The army’s weapons “are not strife weapons and its missions are sacred for the protection of Lebanon and the Lebanese,” the Speaker added.

Berri also called on the government to “fulfill the commitments mentioned in the Ministerial Statement” and to “begin paying compensations to the owners of damaged or destroyed homes.”

Barrack said Sunday that everything Lebanon is doing is talk without real action.

He told Sky News Arabia in an interview that Israel will not withdraw from the five occupied points and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't care about borders or red lines if he feels Israel is threatened.

Barrack also claimed that Hezbollah has been lately receiving USD 60 million monthly from unidentified sources and that the group is trying to rebuild itself.

He said the U.S. won't take military action against Hezbollah but urged the Lebanese government to act.

The situation in Lebanon is very difficult "but we have a good team in power," Barrack said.

In the interview, Barrack talking about the Middle East said that "peace is an illusion." "There's never been peace, there will probably never be peace."