Israel and Lebanon Agree to Implement Conditional Ceasefire
Washington: According to the joint statement made after the US-led talks in Washington, Israel and Lebanon decided on a ceasefire on Wednesday, but said that for this to happen, the fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah must be “completely stopped”.
The two sides, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, also agreed to create “pilot zones” in which the Lebanese armed forces would “take exclusive control of the region to the exclusion of all non-state actors.”
The statement also stated that the two sides “agreed to meet again during the week of June 22 for further discussions on political and security issues with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.”
“All countries reaffirmed that the future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon should be decided by two sovereign governments,” the statement said.
“They rejected any attempt by any state or non-state actor to hold Lebanon’s future hostage,” the document said, in an apparent reference to Iran and its ally militant group Hezbollah. It was said.
The talks took place just days after US President Donald Trump said the two countries had pledged to ease tensions.
However, Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire; Hezbollah claimed that missile attacks were carried out in northern Israel on Wednesday, while Lebanon said that at least nine people, including two medics, were killed in Israeli attacks in the south.
