Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri said Hezbollah's withdrawal from the Litani River region depends on the complete exit of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon [1].
This condition sets a high bar for diplomatic negotiations, as it links the movement of a non-state actor to the official military movements of a foreign sovereign power. Such a requirement aims to prevent a security vacuum that could lead to further territorial disputes or permanent military occupations.
Speaking at the parliament building in Beirut on Jan. 9, 2025, Berri said he called for a comprehensive ceasefire across all of Lebanon [3]. He said the Lebanese government seeks to ensure full national sovereignty and prevent any Israeli presence in the south before Hezbollah moves its positions [1, 2].
Berri said the Lebanese side does not accept the imposition of specific lines or boundaries within the south [2]. He linked the two movements, saying, "We link the withdrawal of Hezbollah from the south of the Litani to the exit of Israel" [1].
The Speaker's remarks reflect a strategy to ensure that any retreat by Hezbollah is not exploited to solidify an Israeli military foothold. By demanding a total ceasefire, Berri is seeking a broader stability agreement rather than a localized truce that might leave other regions vulnerable to conflict.
This stance places the onus of the initial move on the Israeli military, effectively making the Israeli withdrawal the trigger for Hezbollah's repositioning. The Lebanese parliament remains the central hub for these deliberations as the country navigates the pressure of international mediation and internal security demands [3].
“We link the withdrawal of Hezbollah from the south of the Litani to the exit of Israel”
Berri's insistence on a reciprocal withdrawal indicates that Lebanon will not accept a unilateral retreat by Hezbollah if it leaves the country open to continued Israeli military presence. By framing the withdrawal as a conditional exchange, the Lebanese leadership is attempting to secure a guaranteed exit of foreign troops, treating the presence of Hezbollah and the Israeli military as two sides of the same security equation.
