The Trump administration has announced that Israel and Lebanon have reached an agreement to establish a ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities, a significant step in addressing one of the major obstacles to a broader resolution concerning the conflict with Iran.
The ceasefire arrangement relies on the complete cessation of hostilities from the Hezbollah militia, which is aligned with Iran, as well as the withdrawal of all its personnel from southern Lebanon. This was detailed in a joint statement issued by the U.S. State Department following discussions held in Washington.
Although Israel and Lebanon lack formal diplomatic ties, both parties have consented to the formation of “pilot zones” where the Lebanese armed forces will gain exclusive control, effectively sidelining all non-state actors.
A Hezbollah representative conveyed to the AFP news agency that the organization would reject any form of partial ceasefire, noting that they were not involved in the ongoing negotiations.
Efforts to implement a truce in Lebanon were initially scheduled for April 17; however, fighting persisted, with both factions citing violations by the other as justification for their continued assaults.
The recent discussions in Washington marked the fourth round of direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials since hostilities erupted on March 2, when Hezbollah intensified its attacks on Israel in solidarity with Iran.
The announcement on Wednesday followed a day of continued cross-border exchanges, with Hezbollah claiming to have targeted Israeli forces, while Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals in southern Lebanon.
Earlier, President Donald Trump expressed a desire to differentiate between the discussions regarding the Lebanese conflict and those related to the war with Iran. Nevertheless, Tehran has linked the two issues and has recently threatened to withdraw from peace talks with the U.S. in response to Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, raising concerns about the future of negotiations with Washington.
On Monday, Trump claimed to have averted an imminent Israeli assault on Beirut and indicated he had engaged in discussions with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and representatives from Hezbollah, who allegedly agreed to cease all hostilities.
Trump confirmed that he referred to Netanyahu as “crazy,” expressing frustration that Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah was complicating U.S.-led efforts to promote peace talks with Iran. Analysts suggest that Israel aims to weaken Hezbollah significantly before a potential peace agreement with Iran could halt its military operations.
Netanyahu stated in an interview with CNBC that he and Trump share a common objective of disarming Hezbollah to foster peace between Israel and Lebanon.
Amid rising energy prices and economic uncertainties affecting Republican prospects in the midterm elections, President Trump faces increasing pressure to resolve the conflict with Iran.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives delivered a notable criticism of Trump, supporting a motion that could require him to seek congressional approval for military action or withdraw U.S. forces. The impact of this vote appears largely symbolic, as it is uncertain whether the resolution has any binding legal force, even if it progresses through the Senate.
Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday included an attack near a public hospital in Tebnine, coming shortly after previous strikes near the Hiram and Jabal Amel hospitals in Tyre. An assault near Jabal Amel on Monday resulted in four fatalities and injuries to 127 individuals, predominantly medical personnel.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that an Israeli strike elsewhere in southern Lebanon targeted an ambulance, resulting in the deaths of two paramedics affiliated with the Risala Scouts Association, which is connected to Hezbollah’s ally, the Amal movement.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, Iran conducted a strike on Kuwait, leading to one death, airport damage, and numerous injuries, while U.S. military actions occurred near the Strait of Hormuz.
These incidents in Kuwait and the Strait represent the latest challenges to a tenuous ceasefire involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, contributing to a nearly 2% increase in oil prices, as the Strait remains largely inaccessible following three months of conflict.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed they were not responsible for the attack on Kuwait’s airport and attributed the damage to U.S. interceptor missiles that missed their targets, according to Iranian state media. The U.S. military countered this narrative, asserting that Iranian drones deliberately targeted the airport.
With contributions from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
