Berri accuses Israel of "flagrant violation" of cease-fire

Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday denounced a "flagrant violation" by Israel of the terms of the cease-fire agreement that came into effect on Nov. 27 in Lebanon, as drone strikes and gunfire continued to target southern Lebanon throughout the day.

In a statement, Berri, who negotiated the agreement on behalf of Lebanon, also called on the international committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the terms of the cease-fire to "urgently launch its mission and force Israel to cease its violations and withdraw from the territories it occupies." This committee is made up of Washington, France, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and the Lebanese and Israeli armies.

"The aggressive actions" of the Israeli army in Lebanon represent, according to him, a "flagrant violation of the terms" of the agreement, he added. He cited among these violations the fact that Israel "bulldozes houses in border villages," the airstrikes especially deep into Lebanon, such as the one this morning in Haoush al-Sayyed Ali in Hermel, and the deadly drone strike in Jdeidet Marjayoun. He stressed that "more than 54 violations" have been reported "while Lebanon and the resistance (Hezbollah and its allies) are fully committed" to respecting the agreement.

So far, Hezbollah has not responded to the various Israeli strikes in Lebanon that have taken place since the cease-fire, established after 14 months of war with Israel and two months of deadly escalation of fighting. This expanded offensive began on Sept. 23, a week before the launch of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.