A delegation of ambassadors and representatives from United Nations Security Council member states met in Beirut with Lebanon’s president, prime minister, parliament speaker, foreign minister, and army commander.
Separately, the group held what sources described as its most prominent meeting with Berri, during which eight ambassadors participated.
According to the Slovenian ambassador, the delegation aimed to discuss “the best path to help Lebanon implement Resolution 1701” and to hear Lebanese views on the next phase.
In a related development, sources told the daily Al-Akhbar that US envoy Morgan Ortagus spoke briefly in the meeting and said Washington viewed Lebanon’s steps toward implementing Resolution 1701 — including appointing a diplomat to head Lebanon’s negotiating team — as positive.
After hearing the Security Council representatives, Berri described in detail conditions in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire resolution was announced and said Lebanon had abided by all commitments while Israel continued unilateral military actions.
He said Israel “continues its occupation, attacks and detentions of Lebanese citizens, and wants us to negotiate while under fire; this is something we will never accept.”
Addressing the delegation, Berri said: “You say you are here to ensure proper implementation of Resolution 1701, so what are you doing to persuade Israel to comply? How do you intend to enforce this resolution when you have decided to end the mission of international forces in southern Lebanon? How does this approach align with your stated position?”
Berri said stability would require compelling Israel to halt ceasefire violations and withdraw from Lebanese territory, particularly after the five-party monitoring committee expanded its meetings.
He warned through the delegation that Israel’s continued military operations would only escalate tensions and that “negotiations under fire are unacceptable and will never be accepted by Lebanon.”
Meanwhile, sources close to Berri denied that the Security Council team discussed any ready international alternative to fill a potential vacuum if the UNIFIL mandate ends.
Separately, sources who met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he had discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron and US officials the issue of addressing any gap following a possible UNIFIL withdrawal and had raised questions with foreign delegations about what should occur before the mission concludes.
The report said several ideas were presented, including proposals that pointed to the return of international forces, while some European representatives mentioned the possibility of deploying a United Nations force rather than a broader multinational contingent.
Some Lebanese political sources expressed concern that Salam’s position could be interpreted as tacit approval of a UN deployment, potentially reflecting the government’s stance.
These sources cautioned against exposing Lebanon to another experience with a multinational force whose mission is predetermined, recalling the 1982 precedent when such forces quickly became aligned with the Israeli invasion.
In a related development, Hezbollah warned against any concessions to Israel.
Ehab Hamadeh, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, told Al Jazeera that more than a year had passed since the ceasefire and “Israel has not adhered to any of its provisions.”
Hamadeh said concessions to Israel would only embolden it “for further ambitions.”