Lebanon-Israel direct talks pause operation against Hezbollah — but for how long?
The US blocked Israel from widening its strikes on Hezbollah this week, yet another flare-up in their enduring conflict seems likely despite first direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
TEL AVIV — The United States this week blocked Israel from expanding attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, but another round in the combatants' long-standing conflict only appears to be a matter of time. The direct talks held Wednesday in Naqoura between Israeli and Lebanese representatives, under American patronage, the first in over three decades, failed to resolve Israel's core concern — Hezbollah's increasing rearmament.
The Nov. 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon called for an end to Hezbollah and Israel exchanging strikes, for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon within 60 days, and for Hezbollah to disarm by the end of 2025. However, Israeli troops have remained positioned in five locations in the south. While recognizing the Lebanese government's commitment to disarming Hezbollah, Israeli leaders perceived the Lebanese military as inefficient in carrying out the task and believe the Shiite group will not relinquish its ability or desire to launch attacks against Israel. Israel has since continued to target Hezbollah posts and weapon caches in southern Lebanon and beyond.
US intervention
In the two weeks before the Naqoura talks, Israeli security officials repeatedly warned of an imminent new round of conflict, which they said was almost inevitable. Last Saturday, Israel again alerted Washington that it planned to step up attacks in Lebanon as part of a major operation to disarm Hezbollah.
