A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached in Washington after two days of intensive talks hosted by the United States, with the deal centered on ending Hezbollah’s military activity in southern Lebanon and advancing broader peace negotiations between the neighboring countries.

A joint statement released at the conclusion of Wednesday’s discussions said the ceasefire would only take effect if Hezbollah completely halts its attacks and removes all of its operatives from the area south of the Litani River. The agreement makes implementation of the truce directly dependent on those requirements being met.

As part of the arrangement, Israel and Lebanon agreed to move forward rapidly with the establishment of pilot security zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will exercise exclusive authority, without the presence of any armed non-state groups. Officials said the initiative is intended to create momentum toward a wider peace and security framework between the two nations.

The United States, Israel, and Lebanon also delivered a strong message against outside influence, declaring that they “rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage,” while emphasizing that relations between the countries “must be decided by the two sovereign governments”.

Both sides further stated that they “reaffirmed that they have no hostile intent toward one another and committed to continuing direct negotiations to build confidence”.

The latest diplomatic effort follows defense consultations held at the Pentagon on May 29, where officials began formulating a broader strategic vision for the region. According to the statement, the plan seeks to guarantee “ensuring the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Lebanon and Israel,” while requiring the “dismantlement of non-state armed groups, and the prevention of their re-emergence”. Participants also jointly “condemned Iran’s attacks on countries in the region, and ongoing activities that undermine stability throughout the Middle East”.

Washington reiterated its commitment to strengthening the Lebanese military so it can fully enforce government authority throughout the country. American officials also pointed to comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 2, when he said that “Hezbollah is not just an enemy of Israel and an enemy of America, but that it is an enemy of Lebanon”.

Israel maintained during the negotiations that its long-term security can “only be achieved through the disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantlement of its infrastructure throughout Lebanon”. Lebanon, meanwhile, emphasized “the necessity for mutual respect of internationally recognized borders” and underscored “the urgent need for full implementation of the cessation of hostilities”.

Under the agreement, negotiators are expected to “reconvene the political and security tracks the week of June 22, with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement,” while the United States continues to serve as the primary mediator.

The Washington meeting marked the fourth round of American-sponsored negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

Following the first round of talks on April 23, attended by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, President Donald Trump voiced optimism that a peace agreement between the two countries could be reached before the end of the year.

Trump also said he would like to host Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington within the coming weeks.

Aoun has made it clear, however, that a meeting with Netanyahu is not currently under consideration, arguing that securing and maintaining the ceasefire must come before any direct political engagement between the two leaders.

The Lebanese president has also recently reiterated that a complete Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon remains a “non-negotiable” condition for any final agreement.

{Matzav.com}