After the discussions between the two countries in the United States, a joint communiqué was issued stating that they would try to establish new “security zones” in Lebanon. The Lebanese military would have control over the zones, where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah would be barred.
But Hezbollah has not entered the talks, and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel still has “freedom of action, with US support, to strike in Beirut in response to fire on Israeli communities.” This reflects concern that Hezbollah will continue to fight.
Yellow line
In a statement quoted by international media, Katz thus signals that nothing will change.
“The Israeli Defense Forces will for the time being continue their offensive and ground operations, staying in the security zone in Lebanon up to the Yellow Line – including the Beaufort area – without the population being able to return.”
The “Yellow Line” is a line Israel has declared as the boundary of a security zone it established in southern Lebanon, despite harsh international criticism.
The well-equipped Hezbollah militia has also continued to sound combative.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said in a written statement that a ceasefire must also include southern Lebanon and that the militia cannot allow “the Israeli enemy to have freedom to kill,” the AFP news agency reports.
“As long as our villages are threatened – as long as they are bombed, destroyed and our people are killed – the settlements (northern Israel) will remain unsafe,” he added.
Claimed promises
Hezbollah notified the Lebanese government on Thursday that the militia rejects the announced ceasefire, a representative who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said.
The ceasefire only came into effect on April 17, but both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating it, and attacks from both sides of the border have been ongoing since then.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that he has received promises from both Israel and Hezbollah to avoid an escalation. He is particularly concerned about this, as the Lebanon issue is complicating US negotiations with Iran to end the war in the Persian Gulf.
New Israel-Lebanon talks are to be held in two weeks.
