U.S. Announces Ceasefire Agreement in Lebanon
The US State Department announced an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on a ceasefire, following the conclusion of the fourth round of direct talks between the two sides in Washington.
The United States, Israel and Lebanon issued a joint statement that read: "As a result of the negotiations led by the United States, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement the ceasefire," and the ceasefire requires a full ceasefire by Hezbollah and the evacuation of all party elements from the southern Litani sector.
The US State Department said in a statement that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to establish "test zones" in which the Lebanese army would assume exclusive control, indicating that the agreement stipulates the exclusion of non-state armed actors from the pilot zones in Lebanon.
She added that the steps to impose control of the Lebanese army will pave the way for a "comprehensive peace and security agreement" with Israel, noting that the future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be decided "exclusively" by the sovereign governments of the two countries.
It reiterated Washington's rejection of any attempt by any state or non-state actor to hold Lebanon's future "hostage," implicitly referring to Iran and Hezbollah.
Israel is committed to disarming Hezbollah
The US statement explained that Israel and Lebanon reaffirm that their relations are free of any mutual hostile intentions, and affirmed their commitment to continue direct negotiations to resolve the outstanding files and reach a comprehensive agreement.
The security framework between Lebanon and Israel includes the dismantling of non-state armed groups and preventing their return, she said, adding that any cessation of hostilities agreement must be concluded directly between the governments of Lebanon and Israel under US auspices.
The US State Department expressed its total rejection of any "separate or parallel track" to direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, stressing the US determination to support the Lebanese army and develop its capabilities to enable it to extend effective sovereignty over its entire territory.
The statement pointed out that "Israel has affirmed that its security and the preservation of its territory can only be achieved by disarming Hizbullah and dismantling its infrastructure, and adheres to direct negotiations under the leadership of Washington to resolve outstanding issues and achieve peace."
For its part, Lebanon stressed mutual respect for international borders and the immediate and complete cessation of hostilities, stressing its adherence to the principles of its territorial integrity and full state sovereignty.
At the time of writing, there has been no comment from Hezbollah or Iran on the deal.
The date of the sixth round is not specified
On Wednesday, the United States hosted a new round of political negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which took place in Washington, D.C., where the Lebanese delegation was headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and the date of the sixth round of negotiations has not been set.
US State Department spokesman Tommy Bigott said in a post on the "X" platform that "progress continues on the political and security tracks, overcoming the failures of the past 20 years, and we are moving towards a comprehensive agreement to restore Lebanese sovereignty and ensure Israeli security," and stressed that Washington is committed to the role of mediator in these "historic" negotiations.
The tour was attended by Presidential Envoy Simon Karam, Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamada Mouawad, Deputy Consul General Wissam Boutros, and Military Attaché Oliver Hakamieh.
On the Israeli side, Israeli Ambassador Yachel Leiter, Deputy National Security Advisor Yossi Draznin, Head of the IDF's Planning Department Amishai Levin, and Israeli Embassy Military Attaché Eric Ben-Dov are participating.