Berri brakes Hezbollah's campaigns against Lebanon's prime minister

Sources close to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat that Berri pushed for a de-escalation between Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and a large part of southerners, reflected in Salam's visit to Nabatieh and his televised remarks on NBN, a channel affiliated with Berri's Amal Movement. Salam's Monday meetings, including with Berri and South Council head Hashem Haidar, signaled a rapid push to reactivate the state's presence in the south, while MP Hassan Fadlallah said Hezbollah supports strengthening the state's role in the south but tied that to ending the Israeli occupation. Hezbollah issued no statement against the Nabatieh visit, unlike previous occasions, and municipalities affiliated with it took part in the reception.