Israel and Lebanon agree to renew a fragile ceasefire after a fourth round of U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department, according to a joint statement. The renewal is described as conditional on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and on the evacuation of Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River.
Alongside the ceasefire extension, the parties plan to establish “pilot” or “security” zones inside Lebanon. In these zones, Lebanese security forces would take exclusive control of the territory, with non-state actors excluded. Multiple reports describe the zones as territories where Hezbollah militants are barred from operating.
Several outlets note that details on how the zones would be created and implemented were not immediately clear. Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations, but the agreement is presented as a coordinated step toward stabilizing the border area, mediated by the United States, while setting specific conditions tied to Hezbollah’s withdrawal and the end of attacks.
