Lebanon and Israel have reached an agreement to implement a ceasefire, a development announced Wednesday by the U.S. State Department following U.S.-mediated negotiations in Washington.
The accord is conditional upon a complete cessation of hostilities by the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia and the withdrawal of all its operatives from the South Litani Sector. This agreement follows a previous ceasefire attempt last month that failed to halt ongoing hostilities.
The recent conflict escalated in March when Israel initiated an incursion into Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah operatives who had been launching cross-border attacks in support of Tehran. Iran had previously stated its refusal to endorse any agreement ending its conflict with the United States and Israel unless it also encompassed a ceasefire in Lebanon.
According to the joint statement released Wednesday, both Lebanon and Israel have committed to further direct negotiations. These discussions aim to foster confidence-building measures and address other unresolved issues between the two nations.
