Stalemate in Baabda–Hezbollah dialogue despite Berri's efforts

⏱️ Timeline

1. 11 Nov 2026, 06:39 A report in Asharq Al-Awsat addressed the possibility of renewed contact between President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah, backed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who calls for a bilateral dialogue without preconditions. It quoted a parliamentary source close to the "Shia duo" saying the dialogue aims to reduce tension and shore up stability, while Lebanon awaits the return of US Ambassador Michel Issa, the outcome of Israeli government formation and Qatari mediation, with the party holding on to its weapon.
2. 11 Nov 2026, 18:00 Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab affirmed that Speaker Nabih Berri proposes side dialogues instead of a traditional dialogue table, noting Berri's call to unify Lebanese efforts and positions in the face of regional and international changes. Political sources say Berri is pushing for a dialogue between Baabda and Hezbollah, while the party conditions any contact on annulling Cabinet decisions against it.
3. 12 Nov 2026, 06:38 A sharp stalemate prevails in the communication channels between the Baabda Palace and Hezbollah, after the party conditioned a return to dialogue on cancelling government decisions related to restricting weapons to the state and disarming it, while the Lebanese authorities insist on rejecting preconditions and on the necessity of extending sovereignty.

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