Lebanon and Israel make new attempt at ceasefire

Location at a glance

Lebanon and Israel make new attempt at ceasefire

So far, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has achieved little. Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah has recently come to a head. Now the ceasefire should be implemented. Does that work?

According to the US State Department, Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a new attempt to implement the ceasefire, which has so far had little effect. The ceasefire is dependent on a complete cessation of attacks by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia against Israel, it said in a joint statement after talks between Israeli and Lebanese government representatives in Washington.

But already in the morning there were new Lebanese reports of targeted drone attacks by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon. A military spokesman said they were checking the reports.

In the current conflict, Israel and the Shiite militia are facing each other. The Lebanese government is not itself a warring party – and also has only limited influence on Hezbollah. The militia allied with Tehran is not involved in the talks. She sees negotiations with Israel as surrender.

The joint declaration made in Washington envisages the establishment of so-called pilot zones in Lebanon, in which only the regular Lebanese armed forces should exercise control. Hezbollah is said to be withdrawing from areas south of the Litani River – an area up to 30 kilometers from the border. How these security zones will be set up is still unclear. “These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” it said.

No information was initially given as to whether the new commitment to the ceasefire was a temporary extension. The ceasefire had previously been extended for a limited period of time. Israel and Lebanon agreed to continue their talks during the week of June 22 to reach a comprehensive agreement, the statement added.

The future of relations between Israel and Lebanon must be decided by the two governments themselves. Any attempt by “state or non-state actors” to “take Lebanon’s future hostage” will be rejected. This appeared to be a clear reference to Iran supporting Hezbollah. In stalled negotiations with the US over a framework agreement to end the Iran war, Tehran is also demanding an end to the Lebanon conflict as part of an agreement.

The Lebanese Civil Defense called on people to be patient in the morning. They should not rush back to their hometowns. A return to the villages in the south of the country should only take place after appropriate official announcements. There is also still a risk from remnants of war and unexploded ammunition.