What’s in new Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal — and what’s missing?
Hezbollah’s insistence on continuing to fight off Israeli attacks, along with Israel’s ongoing airstrikes in Lebanon, could threaten the implementation of the latest US-brokered ceasefire.
A new conditional ceasefire agreed upon by Lebanon and Israel came under intense pressure Thursday amid ongoing exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
What happened: Lebanon and Israel agreed Wednesday to a US-brokered ceasefire hinged on Hezbollah halting its attacks against Israel. The agreement was announced in a joint statement by the US State Department, Lebanon and Israel following two days of talks between Lebanese and Israeli diplomats at the State Department, chaired by US deputy national security adviser Michael Needham.
“The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from the South Litani Sector,” the statement read, referring to the river in southern Lebanon that lies about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border with Israel.
The statement said the two countries also agreed to create “pilot zones” where the Lebanese Armed Forces will assume total control. It did not specify the location of these areas or when they will be established.
