Berri awaits news from Washington

Source: Nida Al Watan – Richard Harfouch

Ain el-Tineh remains committed to an approach it considers the indispensable gateway to protecting Lebanon: first ending the war, then moving toward dialogue and a political settlement. Sources at Ain el-Tineh told Nida Al Watan that the country is going through one of its most dangerous periods in decades, requiring a different approach focused on preventing internal collapse and preserving a minimum level of national unity.

The sources stress the need to link ending the war with safeguarding national unity, considering internal stability to be the first line of defense against the current challenges. They also emphasize the importance of supporting the government and strengthening cooperation among the various political forces during this critical period.

Regarding Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri’s position that he can guarantee Hezbollah’s commitment to a complete and immediate ceasefire, provided that Israel fully ceases its military operations, the sources believe that the significance of Berri’s stance lies not only in its timing but also in its substance. They indicate that he succeeded in securing a preliminary commitment from Hezbollah to halt hostilities in exchange for a reciprocal Israeli commitment. At the same time, however, they express caution regarding Israeli promises, citing a long record of violations and failure to honor previous commitments.

In the same context, the sources revealed that negotiations took place on Monday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Speaker Berri through adviser Ali Hamdan and Ambassador Michel Issa, describing the atmosphere of those discussions as positive.

Ain el-Tineh sources reaffirm their commitment to the option of indirect negotiations and reject any move toward direct talks in the absence of guarantees capable of protecting Lebanese rights. This position stems from their understanding of the nature of the Israeli project. Consequently, they stress the need for an international framework supportive of Lebanon and capable of guaranteeing the implementation of any potential agreement, a position that Berri has consistently advocated.

On the diplomatic front, the sources praise the understanding reached with Saudi Arabia regarding the necessity of ending the war, protecting national unity, and implementing the Taif Agreement. They also commend the role of Qatar and Doha’s readiness to support Lebanon, alongside ongoing French efforts to support the Lebanese state. Accordingly, they believe that addressing all domestic issues must begin with ending the war before moving to a dialogue table under Arab sponsorship.

The sources added that a number of factors contributed to sparing Beirut from potential strikes during the past few hours. Chief among them were Iran’s threat to enter the war, as well as Trump’s cooperation and his direct pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They explained that the success of these efforts ultimately depends on the announcement of a comprehensive ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.

In response to a question about the existence of differences within the Shiite duo, the sources confirmed that such differences do indeed exist, explaining: “We agree on many issues and may disagree on some, but we constitute a strategic political partnership.”

Meanwhile, other political sources believe that the main bet revolves around the success of political efforts to rein in Hezbollah’s actions over the coming days and contain the escalation, particularly since any further slide could push Lebanon into an even more dangerous and complex phase.

On the ground, sources monitoring developments in southern Lebanon confirmed that there is, so far, no truth to reports suggesting that a comprehensive ceasefire will be reached within the next few days. They indicate that the military situation remains open to more dangerous possibilities, despite information suggesting that the U.S. prevented Tel Aviv from carrying out strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.