Lebanon: Lebanon's parliament speaker on Friday called for a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon, also saying any Hezbollah withdrawal from south of the Litani River should take place in parallel with an Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory.

According to Anadolu Agency, Nabih Berri outlined what he described as key principles for a ceasefire arrangement in a statement carried by Lebanon's National News Agency. He emphasized that a ceasefire should be 'full and comprehensive' across land, sea, and air, without any conditions or the destruction of existing infrastructure and property.

Berri further insisted that Hezbollah's withdrawal from areas south of the Litani River should be synchronized with an Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the conflict. He reiterated, 'Hezbollah's withdrawal from south of the Litani should proceed in parallel with the Israeli withdrawal from the areas it occupied.'

This statement comes amidst ongoing US-mediated negotiations aimed at not only extending a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel but also reaching a more extensive agreement to halt hostilities. A 10-day ceasefire took effect on April 16 and has been extended twice, with the latest extension lasting until mid-June. Discussions continued in Washington this week, where Lebanese and Israeli representatives reviewed the progress and contemplated a further extension.

Despite the existing truce, Israeli airstrikes and evacuation warnings have persisted in parts of Lebanon, with Hezbollah accusing Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. The conflict has displaced more than 1.1 million people in Lebanon since hostilities escalated in March, as reported by Lebanese authorities and UN agencies.

Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some of which have been held for decades, and others seized during the 2023-2024 conflict. Israeli forces have advanced more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory during the current offensive, marking their deepest incursion since 2000. The ongoing conflict has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths and over 10,000 injuries in Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanese officials.