Israel and Lebanon announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to renew their cease-fire and are working towards a comprehensive agreement. This announcement was made in a joint statement with the United States.
The cease-fire agreement may help ease U.S.-Iran negotiations. However, its success depends on the cooperation of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group that is not under the control of the Lebanese government and is not a party to the negotiations.
The joint statement specified that the cease-fire would remain effective only if Hezbollah ceases fire completely and withdraws all its operatives from the South Litani Sector, a region near Israel occupied by Israeli forces after hostilities resumed.
Hezbollah had started firing rockets into northern Israel on March 1, supporting Tehran following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. This led to Israel intensifying its military response, targeting Hezbollah positions in and around Beirut and southern Lebanon.
The agreement, officially confirmed by the U.S. State Department, was the result of U.S.-mediated talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials held in Washington over two days. It includes the establishment of “pilot zones” where the Lebanese military would have exclusive control, prohibiting all nonstate actors.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has posed challenges to peace talks aiming to conclude the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. Tehran insists that Lebanon should be incorporated into any peace treaty. Although Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem expressed support for an Iran-U.S. agreement involving a cease-fire in Lebanon, he opposed direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.
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