NNA - House Speaker, Nabih Berri, received this afternoon at Ain al-Tineh Palace, Deputy US Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus and her accompanying delegation, in the presence of US Ambassador Lisa Johnson and Speaker Berri's media advisor Ali Hamdan.

Discussions touched on the general conditions prevailing in Lebanon, particularly the field situation in the south in light of Israel's persistent violation of UN Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement through its continued occupation of parts of Lebanese territory, burning and blowing up dozens of homes, and bulldozing agricultural lands, in addition to its dozens of airstrikes targeting several Lebanese regions.

Berri stressed to the American envoy that her administration, as a guarantor of the agreement, must oblige Israel to fully implement the ceasefire, as well as the provisions of UN Resolution 1701, most notably withdrawal from all Lebanese national territory.

"Israel is an absolute evil and its continued occupation of Lebanese territory requires resistance," Berri underlined, praising the role of the Lebanese army and its professionalism in deploying in accordance with the agreement.

The House Speaker also tackled the general situation and conditions in the south amidst Israel's continued violation of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement and its ongoing occupation of large parts of the southern Lebanese border territories, during his meeting with French Ambassador Herve Magro and the Vice-Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, French General Guillaume Ponchamp.

==========R.Sh.