Berri: Lebanon and sons of South want UNIFIL to stay

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that “Lebanon and the sons of the South more than others want UNIFIL to stay in their towns and to preserve the mutual relation between the two sides, which has persisted since its units came in 1978.”

In remarks to An-Nahar newspaper, Berri added that no Western or U.N. official has told him that the U.N. force would leave south Lebanon, dismissing the latest reports in this regard.

“In his discussions with (French envoy Jean-Yves) Le Drian and everyone who communicated with him over the past days, Berri asked about Israel’s continued violations and the conspiracy against UNIFIL without any concern from the U.S. and the other parties,” the daily added.

Berri lamented to Le Drian and others that Israel “destroyed a group of buildings that housed more than 100 families” in its latest airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, the newspaper said.

The Speaker also told Le Drian that France should “play a bigger role and shoulder its responsibilities,” adding that UNIFIL must stay in Lebanon and its mandate must be extended, An-Nahar reported.

Berri’s remarks come following a flurry of clashes between residents of south Lebanon and UNIFIL patrols.