Berri says ending UNIFIL is 'greatest crime against south'

Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has emphasized the importance of UNIFIL forces' presence in southern Lebanon and their assigned role, both in “maintaining security in the south and in supporting the Lebanese Army's deployment across all Lebanese territory up to the international border, as stipulated in Resolution 1701.”

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, he lamented that "the greatest mistake and the greatest crime committed against the south would be ending UNIFIL's mandate there.”

“This termination would effectively nullify Resolution 1701, the full implementation of which is essential at this stage, along with the continuation of UNIFIL's mission," Berri added.

The Speaker also warned of Israel's intentions and the dangers of its actions in the south, "particularly its intensified attacks on towns, villages, and their civilian and residential areas, and the extensive detonations of southern villages, which not only destroy their infrastructure and completely eliminate life within them, but also create very serious cracks and fissures in their foundations."