After a prolonged period of intense conflict, Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement on Wednesday to extend their tenuous ceasefire and establish several “pilot” security zones within Lebanon, which will prohibit the presence of Hezbollah militants, according to a report from the Associated Press.
A joint statement issued following a fourth round of U.S.-facilitated discussions at the State Department indicated that the ceasefire is dependent on a complete halt of fire from Hezbollah and the removal of all Hezbollah personnel from regions south of the Litani River.
This development occurred just two days after Hezbollah consented to a U.S.-endorsed initiative that calls for a “mutual cessation of attacks” with Israel. As reported by Reuters, the Lebanese embassy in Washington stated that the Iran-supported group agreed to stop its assaults in return for Israel’s commitment to refrain from conducting strikes in Beirut.
In their renewed agreement, both Lebanon and Israel committed to promptly advancing the establishment of pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces will have exclusive control, eliminating all non-state actors from these areas, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The statement emphasized that these measures will facilitate progress towards a broader peace and security accord. It also underscored that the future relations between Israel and Lebanon must be determined by the two independent governments, rejecting any efforts by external state or non-state actors to influence Lebanon’s future.
Hezbollah has been absent from the ongoing talks between Israel and Lebanon that commenced at the beginning of last month.
Furthermore, the parties condemned Iran’s actions against countries in the region, as well as its ongoing endeavors that destabilize the Middle East through proxy support and other aggressive activities.
Both nations have also scheduled another round of discussions around June 22, as they aim to pursue a comprehensive agreement.
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