WASHINGTON: Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday agreed to renew their ceasefire and establish a series of pilot security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah militants would be excluded.
The agreement was announced in a joint statement following the fourth round of US-mediated negotiations held at the State Department. Under the renewed arrangement, both sides committed to maintaining the ceasefire, which is contingent on a complete halt to Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River.
While specific details regarding the implementation of the proposed security zones were not immediately disclosed, the agreement stipulates that the Lebanese Armed Forces will assume full control of the designated areas.
“These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the joint statement said.
The statement also emphasized that the future relationship between Israel and Lebanon should be determined solely by their respective sovereign governments. It rejected attempts by any state or non-state actor to influence Lebanon’s political and security trajectory.
The remarks appeared to be aimed at Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah, which has maintained that an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon should form part of a broader regional understanding involving the United States.
Hezbollah did not participate in the Israel-Lebanon negotiations.
