Berri calls for reconstruction, unity, and US pressure on Israel after spat with Salam

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said that Israel's recent strikes on construction machinery in south Lebanon was a message that the south's "reconstruction is not allowed".

He told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Monday that the destruction of more than 300 vehicles, including bulldozers, excavators, and cranes, used for removing rubble in order to begin the reconstruction effort, is an Israeli plan to turn the southern border towns into an "unlivable demilitarized buffer zone."

Berri had exchanged heated remarks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, accusing the latter of marginalizing south Lebanon and its people. The Speaker accused the government of prioritizing a Raouche light show over rebuilding the war-hit villages in order for the residents to return home.

Thousands of Hezbollah supporters had gathered last month and projected images of the group’s former longtime leader on the iconic arched Raouche rock to commemorate their deaths in Israeli airstrikes nearly a year ago, despite an apparent attempt by Salam to halt the planned light show.

Berri said the government is acting as if the South is not part of Lebanon and urged it to add the reconstruction file to the 2026 budget.

Salam responded that he had visited south Lebanon and that the government has been paying monthly financial aid and rent assistance to families affected by the war and has started necessary maintenance works to restore services in affected areas. He said the government worked on obtaining a $250 million loan from the World Bank to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the war.

Berri said the only response to Israel's message is national unity and rising above accusations and bickering, in addition to intensifying Lebanon's diplomatic efforts.

"Condemnation is not enough, Lebanon should file a complaint with the United Nation Security Council," he said. Hours later, Salam tasked the Foreign Minister with filing an urgent complaint with the Security Council about the Msayleh strike.

The strike had targeted several bulldozer and excavator showrooms, resulting in the death and wounding of several civilians and grave material damage.

Berri said Israel is targeting businesses to pressure Lebanon into direct negotiations. "Justifying its aggression by claiming it is targeting Hezbollah's military infrastructure is unfounded, its targets were vehicles and equipment used for reconstruction and nothing else," he said.

Berri added that Lebanon wants a diplomatic solution to end the Israeli occupation and aggression. He said he had agreed with U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack on the adoption of a step-for-step approach between Lebanon and Israel. "He promised me to return with an answer after his visit to Tel Aviv, but he came back without a response."

"Where is the U.S.' credibility in sponsoring, alongside France, the ceasefire agreement that Lebanon has adhered to," he asked, claiming that the decision is in Washington's hands as it has the ability to pressure Israel if it wanted to. "The absence of American pressure encourages [Israel] to persist in its aggressions," he said.