The leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting from 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT), as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. This ceasefire comes after six weeks of intense fighting involving Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces would observe the truce while maintaining a security zone extending 10km into southern Lebanon. He expressed a commitment to continued presence to prevent any incursions. Hezbollah is open to the ceasefire but insists on a complete halt to attacks across all Lebanese territory and limitations on the movement of Israeli forces within Lebanon.
The hostilities reignited on March 2nd, following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran that led to retaliatory rocket fire into northern Israel by Hezbollah, framing their actions as a response to the assassination of Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As a consequence of the conflict, Lebanon has seen over 2,000 fatalities, predominantly civilians, with more than a million people displaced and significant infrastructural damage. The Israeli side reports two civilian deaths and 13 military casualties.
Recent talks in Washington sought to mitigate the ongoing conflict, marking a rare direct engagement between Israel and Lebanon. The U.S. State Department underscored Lebanon's commitment to preventing Hezbollah and other armed groups from launching attacks against Israel.
Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, challenges remain, particularly regarding Hezbollah's armaments and the necessity for negotiations to achieve long-term peace. The prospect of a permanent resolution, especially regarding the disarming of Hezbollah, remains a contentious issue, complicating regional stability.
In his announcement, Trump expressed hope for a historical agreement between Israel and Lebanon, hinting at future negotiations. He stated, I believe Lebanon will handle Hezbollah,” emphasizing cooperation between the two nations as they navigate the complex security landscape.
