lebanese Parliament Speaker signals Willingness to Discuss Hezbollah‘s Armament
Abu Dhabi, August 8, 2025, 8:25 PM – Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri publicly indicated Sunday a willingness to discuss the future of Hezbollah’s weaponry, a important shift in tone from the group’s stated position. Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah through the “Amal” movement – frequently enough referred to as the “Shiite duo” – framed the potential discussion within a constitutional framework focused on Lebanese national security.
Berri’s statement comes as the Lebanese government considers a plan to limit weapons to state forces by year’s end, with the army tasked this month to develop an implementation strategy. While Hezbollah has previously insisted on Israel‘s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a defensive strategy as preconditions for any discussion of it’s arms, Berri proposed a dialog “compatible under the roof of the constitution, the discourse of the department, the ministerial statement, the international laws and charters, in a way that leads to a strategy for national security that protects Lebanon, liberates its land and preserves its internationally recognized borders.”
the speaker criticized what he described as “political bullying campaigns” targeting the shiite sect and rejected actions he deemed threats to Lebanon’s constitution, ministerial statement, and the existing ceasefire agreement with Israel – Resolution 1701. He accused israel of non-compliance with Resolution 1701, alleging continued violations of sovereignty and a refusal to withdraw from disputed territories.
Berri also expressed concern over a U.S. proposal he characterized as exceeding a simple weapons inventory and potentially supplanting the ceasefire agreement. He warned against actions that could destabilize the Lebanese army, stating, “It is not permissible to throw a fire ball in the bosom of the Lebanese army.”
