The governments of Israel and Lebanon agreed yesterday Wednesday to “implement a ceasefire” and create “pilot zones” under the exclusive control of the Lebanese army, according to a trilateral announcement released following two days of talks in Washington under the auspices of US President Donald Trump’s administration.
“As a result of negotiations conducted under US auspices, Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire,” which however has necessary preconditions that “Hezbollah’s firing must stop completely” and “all Hezbollah members must be urgently removed from the sector south of the Litani,” states the text, published by the State Department following the two-day trilateral talks.
“The two parties agreed to immediately create pilot zones under US guidance in which Lebanese armed forces will exercise exclusive control, excluding non-state forces,” the text continues, referring to the Iran-backed Shiite movement.
These measures, the announcement states, will allow the parties to “move toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement.”
“All countries reaffirmed that the future of relations between Israel and Lebanon must be decided by the two sovereign governments. They rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage,” the text continues, implying Iran and Hezbollah.
The governments of Israel and Lebanon also agreed to participate in the next round of talks during the week starting June 22nd with a view to reaching a “comprehensive agreement,” according to the announcement.
Earlier, US President Trump insisted on “separating” the talks on Lebanon from those on Iran.
Tehran rejects this idea, considering the war to be one.
Delegations from the governments of Israel and Lebanon met in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, even as yesterday alone, Israeli bombardments on Lebanese territory cost the lives of nine people, including a soldier and two rescue workers.
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