Lebanons Latest Truce Differed From April Agreement in Key Provisions

US-Mediated Ceasefire Agreement Reached Between Israel and Lebanon

A new ceasefire agreement has been reached between Save Share Israel and the Lebanese government, facilitated by the US administration. The agreement is contingent on a “complete cessation” of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of its fighters from the area south of the Litani River.

According to the Trump administration, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement the ceasefire, with the aim of moving towards a wider political and security agreement. This includes the dismantling of non-state armed groups and preventing their re-emergence.

The agreement also calls for the creation of “pilot zones” where Lebanese Armed Forces would take exclusive control. Hezbollah was not party to the talks and has already rejected the deal, with its leader Naim Qassem describing it as a “surrender and defeat”.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that the ceasefire would come into force within 24 hours of approval by all concerned parties. However, Israel’s Defence Minister insisted that military operations in Lebanon will continue.

The US administration has also been pursuing parallel shuttle negotiations with Iran, which has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any broader agreement to end the war with the US and has repeatedly called for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

Critics of Israel’s war on Lebanon point to the April truce, which they say has failed to halt Israeli attacks or Israel’s occupation of the south of the country. The new agreement repeats Israel’s longstanding demand that Hezbollah withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon, but does not mention Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

A meeting between the parties is scheduled for June 22 to continue diplomatic and security talks, with the US facilitating communications in the meantime. It remains unclear if this stage of the agreement will be reached.

Source: Al Jazeera