Caught between Hezbollah and risk of escalation, Berri is losing patience

Nabih Berri's latest remarks stand out. On Wednesday, the Parliament speaker said in an interview on Voice of Lebanon radio that his relationship with his longtime ally, Hezbollah, had been "closer" under Hassan Nasrallah, the party's former secretary-general. Of course, the disagreements between Amal and Hezbollah are no secret, especially since the latter joined the regional war in March in solidarity with Iran. But Berri has always made sure to remain discreet about the issue, insisting on the strength of the alliance.Even though he departed from his usual restraint, this obviously does not mean the two allies are on the verge of a split. Berri is no stranger to political double-dealing. Just a few hours after his remarks, he once again came to Hezbollah's defense, helping prevent the case involving explosive...