After the fourth round of trilateral discussions, the United States, Israel, and Lebanon have reached an agreement to resume a ceasefire, though Hezbollah has not accepted the arrangement.
Officials from the U.S. State Department met with representatives from both Israeli and Lebanese sides in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A joint statement confirmed the implementation of a ceasefire between the three nations, including some new provisions.
“The ceasefire is contingent on the complete cessation of Hezbollah shelling and removing all Hezbollah members from the southern Litani region,” the statement noted. “Both parties have agreed to U.S. proposals to expedite the establishment of a test zone where the Lebanese Army would have complete control, excluding non-state actors.”
Despite openly rejecting Hezbollah’s influence—along with the aggressive actions of its Iranian backers—Israel and Lebanon have signaled their intention to pursue a comprehensive “peace and security agreement” devoid of “mutually hostile intentions.”
“The nations reaffirmed that future relations between Israel and Lebanon should be determined by the sovereign governments of both sides. Any attempts by any state or non-state actor to hold Lebanon hostage were rejected,” the official statement continued.
Furthermore, all parties condemned Iran’s assaults on regional countries and its ongoing efforts to destabilize the Middle East through proxy support and other aggressive activities.
The United States supports the sovereignty of both nations and emphasizes its commitment to strengthening the Lebanese military. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that Hezbollah is “not just an enemy of Israel and the U.S., but also of Lebanon.”
Israel underscored that ensuring its territorial integrity hinges on the disarmament of Hezbollah and dismantling infrastructure in Lebanon.
“Lebanon, with U.S. backing, is determined to enhance the capacity of the Lebanese Army to maintain effective control throughout the country,” the State Department stated.
However, Hezbollah has outright rejected the ceasefire proposal.
Naim Qassem, the group’s leader, labeled the plan “a roadmap for the annihilation of part of the Lebanese population” in a statement provided Thursday.
“Resistance will persist as long as the occupation is maintained,” he said, alluding to Israel’s security buffer in specific southern Lebanese areas. “We urge the authorities to put an end to this farce and humiliation known as direct negotiations.”
Following a coordinated operation between Israel and the U.S. against Iran in February, military activities in Lebanon increased. Israeli officials claim that their actions in Lebanon are aimed at dismantling Hezbollah strongholds, positioning this as part of a broader strategy against Tehran, the group’s primary financial and military supporter.
The commander of the Quds Force, part of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), mentioned: “Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is a collective duty, and removing Israel from the region is an attainable goal for Muslims.”
The Iranian government previously stated that any temporary ceasefire agreement with the U.S. would depend on halting fighting in Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to reconvene in the week of June 22. The aim is for the United States to mediate and help establish a more comprehensive agreement.
