Israel Commits to New Lebanon Cease-Fire
- Israel and Lebanon agree to conditional ceasefire
- Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon despite ceasefire
- Hezbollah not included in ceasefire agreement
- US brokers deal between Israel and Lebanon
- Ceasefire to last for 10 days
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a conditional ceasefire, officials said. The ceasefire, brokered by the US, requires Hezbollah to stop firing, but Israel will continue operations. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that the country's military will continue to carry out operations in Lebanon for the time being and will not be withdrawing from the country, despite the announcement of the new ceasefire.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents, forced from their homes in the south by Israel's military since fighting began in March, would also not be allowed to return, he said in a statement.
Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah in the border area as they pushed into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a 'security zone.'
The agreement does not include Hezbollah, sources confirmed. The US would help guide 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.'
Reaction to Ceasefire Deal
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the militia would support a full ceasefire across all Lebanon as a precursor to the withdrawal of Israeli troops. He did not say whether the group would stop its strikes on Israeli territory.
Lebanon said it would seek to expand the ceasefire in talks with Israel in Washington on Wednesday.
Speaking from Beirut, Lebanon's former ambassador to Jordan, Tracy Chamoun, told Morning Edition on Thursday, that as far as she's concerned, Israel's 'ambitions are not just about Hezbollah, but they're also about acquiring territory in South Lebanon, which they've made very clear.'
Recent Clashes and Airstrikes
On 14 February 2025, Israeli forces launched two airstrikes in areas of Nabatiyeh and Tyre. On 15 February 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit a car in Iqlim al-Tuffah, in southern Lebanon, killing 2 people and injuring 4.
On 16 February 2025, Israeli forces opened fire upon civilians trying to return to Houla, killing a woman.
On 25 February 2025, two people were killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Beqaa Valley. On 8 March 2025, a Lebanese man was killed and another man was injured in an Israeli airstrike in South Lebanon.
Historical Context
The conflict between Israel and Lebanon has been ongoing for decades, with periodic outbreaks of violence.
In recent years, the conflict has escalated, with both sides exchanging airstrikes and artillery fire.
The US has been involved in efforts to broker a peace deal between the two sides, but so far, a lasting agreement has not been reached.
Humanitarian Impact
The conflict has had a devastating impact on civilians in Lebanon, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with many people in need of food, shelter, and medical care.
The international community has called for an end to the violence and for a lasting peace agreement to be reached, but so far, a solution has not been found.