An Israeli airstrike on Sejoud, in southern Lebanon, on March 22, 2025. (Credit: Rabih Daher / AFP)
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday urged all parties in Lebanon not to “create pretexts for the enemy” — referring to Israel — and to “rally around the state and its institutions,” particularly the military, following rocket fire from southern Lebanon toward Israel. The statement marked a rare veiled criticism of Hezbollah and its arsenal.
“All Lebanese, especially political forces, must purify their political discourse, rally around the state and its constitutional, judicial, military and security institutions, and be aware of the dangers of creating pretexts for the enemy by fueling internal conflict,” Berri said in a statement.
He also called on the Lebanese Army, judicial and security authorities, as well as the cease-fire monitoring committee, to “expedite their investigation into the circumstances” of the rocket fire.
“The only party that stands to benefit from dragging Lebanon and the region into a major spiral of violence is Israel and its military and security apparatus,” he warned, adding that the Israeli state has committed “more than 1,500 violations of the ceasefire” that came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024, “while Lebanon and its resistance have fully abided by all provisions of the agreement.”
