In a notable diplomatic development, Israel and Lebanon have reached an understanding on the implementation of a ceasefire, contingent upon the complete cessation of Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement issued after the latest round of US-mediated negotiations
The breakthrough comes amid recent Israeli warnings of possible intensified military action in Lebanon, a source of regional tension that had raised concerns about its potential impact on parallel diplomatic engagements between the United States and Iran.
The diplomatic advancement comes against the backdrop of a fragile security situation, with the ongoing ceasefire have witnessed repeated violations, with Israel and Hezbollah continuing to trade strikes.
The high-level negotiations, held at the US State Department, continued for nearly nine hours on Wednesday after an entire day of preliminary discussions on Tuesday.
Looking ahead to build on this momentum, Israel and Lebanon “agreed to reconvene the political and security tracks the week of June 22, with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement”, while the US “agreed to continue facilitating communication between the parties in the interim.”
As an immediate measure to stabilise the border, the joint statement said that both sides have agreed to “swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors.” However, the cross-border agreement did not specify a timeline for those pilot zones.
The structural framework for long-term regional stability remains a primary focus of the discussions.
According to the joint statement, “Israel reaffirmed that its security and respect for its territorial integrity can only be achieved through the disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantlement of its infrastructure throughout Lebanon.
In response to these key security demands, Beirut outlined its own sovereign priorities and expectations within the peace process.
“Lebanon reaffirmed the necessity for mutual respect of internationally recognised borders, the urgent need for full implementation of the cessation of hostilities, underscoring the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty,” the text read.
To meet these international benchmarks, “Lebanon committed to enhancing the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, with US support, to assert effective control throughout the country.”
To support the effective implementation of these security measures, Washington has committed to providing strong institutional backing.
The US “underscored its intent to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, with the aim of improving their capacity and enabling the effective exercise of sovereignty throughout Lebanese territory”, according to the release.
The joint declaration also included an unified regional stance against external state-sponsored militia networks.
“All parties condemned Iran’s attacks on countries in the region, and ongoing activities that undermine stability throughout the Middle East, whether through support for proxies and all other acts of aggression,” the statement added.
