In brief
- Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a conditional ceasefire in Washington DC.
- The ceasefire is contingent on “complete cessation” of fire by Hebollah.
Israel and Lebanon have reached a tentative agreement to initiate a ceasefire, contingent on Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, completely halting its attacks. This understanding emerged from discussions led by the United States in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, as stated in a joint declaration.
The nations, which lack official diplomatic ties, have also committed to establishing “pilot zones.” These areas will be under the sole control of the Lebanese armed forces, excluding all non-state entities.
Furthermore, the statement outlined plans for both countries to reconvene during the week of June 22 for further discussions on “political and security tracks,” aiming to forge a broad agreement.
The document emphasized that only the two sovereign governments of Israel and Lebanon should determine the future nature of their relationship.
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“They rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage,” the document said, in apparent references to Iran and its allied militant group Hezbollah.
The negotiations come days after US President Donald Trump said the two countries had pledged to de-escalate.
But Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire, with Hezbollah claiming missile attacks on northern Israel Wednesday and Lebanon saying Israeli strikes in the south killed at least nine people, including two paramedics.
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