🔸 LEBANESE POLITICAL DIVISIONS, HEZBOLLAH POSITION, AND SMOTRICH'S REMARKS
📍 LEBANON PREPARES PILOT DEPLOYMENT UNDER U.S. SUPERVISION: Lebanon is preparing to deploy army units "in the coming hours" within model zones in Frun, under the Bint Jbeil district, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, under the Nabatieh district, according to Asharq Al-Awsat citing a ministerial source.
These sectors are outside the "yellow line" security belt Israel maintains until Hezbollah is disarmed, with operations to be carried out under U.S. military observer supervision.
U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper is expected to arrive tonight from Jerusalem with observers to facilitate the deployment.
The mission is meant to test military readiness to prevent the presence of "illegal armed groups" inside strategic topographies. Frun overlooks Taybeh, Qantara, and Wadi al-Hujair, while Zawtar al-Gharbiya connects Wadi al-Salouqi to Deir Siryan.
The deployment plan was modified to exclude Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Arnoun, and Yahmar al-Shaqif due to Israeli refusal to evacuate positions fortifying Shaqif Castle.
Israeli forces link any future withdrawal from those towns to a Hezbollah evacuation of Ali al-Taher Hill, currently besieged from the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit.
❗️ BERRI REJECTS FRAMEWORK AND CRITICIZES AOUN: Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected the 14-point framework agreement with Israel, saying "the May 17th Agreement is preferable," according to An-Nahar.
Berri argued that the terms grant the Israeli military excessive maneuverability while blocking southern border residents from returning or rebuilding, which he said serves Benjamin Netanyahu's interests.
Berri assessed that recent Washington talks were aimed at undermining the Islamabad track document and Swiss understandings to neutralize Iranian regional influence. He also emphasized that Lebanon must stand firm to "not humiliate the South" through real internal trust and national unity.
Berri said President Joseph Aoun completely bypassed mandatory constitutional consultations before and after the signing of the text, despite a mutual commitment to national well-being. He explicitly praised Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal as "wise."
When asked about external diplomatic pressure, Berri replied that "no one can restrict me." According to Al-Akhbar, he also confirmed an executive communication freeze with President Joseph Aoun, stating, "he doesn't contact me," and argued the framework cannot be implemented independently.
Berri warned against destabilizing street protests that risk inciting internal divisions and said Amal Movement ministers will attend all cabinet sessions because "there, we will confront it" within constitutional frameworks.
He insisted that the only realistic mechanism to secure national rights and compel a complete Israeli withdrawal "lies in the American-Iranian negotiation track," arguing separate talks merely prolong the occupation.
🗣️ HEZBOLLAH AND IRAN HOLD POSITION: According to Al-Diyar, Lebanon is monitoring implementation of the Washington framework over the coming days amid a widening gap between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has postponed field or popular escalation pending Iranian ceasefire efforts and insists the Washington agreement remains "irrelevant to it" because only anticipated Iranian-American understandings secure national interests.
Tehran has intensified contacts with regional intermediaries and directly with the United States. Iranian officials informed Nabih Berri they reject any final agreement lacking "complete Israeli withdrawal" provisions, unlike the framework, which links withdrawal to Hezbollah disarmament.
🇮🇱 SMOTRICH: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "We have not yet eliminated either Hamas or Hezbollah, but there is now international legitimacy to eliminate both of these organizations."
He also warned, "Hamas can take over Judea and Samaria in an instant—we saw how quickly it took control of Gaza."
Smotrich added that Israel wants to bring one million Israelis to Judea and Samaria so that will not happen.
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