NEWS DESK
NEWS FROM Jerusalem/Beirut/Washington
In a potentially significant diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire framework following US-mediated negotiations in Washington aimed at ending months of escalating cross-border fighting involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
According to a joint statement issued after the latest round of talks, the ceasefire will take effect only if Hezbollah completely halts attacks on Israel and withdraws its fighters from areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
A central element of the proposed arrangement is the creation of “pilot zones” inside Lebanon, where the Lebanese Armed Forces would assume exclusive security control, excluding all armed non-state actors. Diplomats describe the measure as an attempt to strengthen state authority and reduce the risk of renewed clashes along the border.
The agreement also includes a commitment by Israel and Lebanon to continue direct negotiations and pursue broader security understandings. Officials said both sides reaffirmed that future relations should be shaped by their sovereign governments rather than armed groups.
However, uncertainty remains over implementation. Hezbollah was not formally part of the Washington negotiations and later signalled strong opposition to parts of the deal. The group’s leadership described the proposed withdrawal conditions as unacceptable and linked any lasting truce to Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Despite the announcement, reports of continued strikes and exchanges of fire underline the fragile nature of the ceasefire effort and the challenges facing any long-term peace arrangement.