Updated 03.00 | Published 01.10
Israel and Lebanon agree on an extension of the ceasefire between the countries. The announcement comes after the parties’ discussions in the United States.
According to a joint statement, attempts at new “safe zones” in Lebanon will be launched. The Lebanese military is supposed to be in control of the zones, where Iran-backed Hezbollah is banned.
The truce depends on Hezbollah ending attacks on Israel and people with links to the Shia militia leaving areas south of the Litani River, the informal border in southern Lebanon for the Israeli presence.
“These steps enable further steps towards a more comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the parties write in the statement.
However, Hezbollah is not part of the negotiations and has said it will not accept “a unilateral ceasefire”.
The ceasefire first 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 he received promises from both Israel and Hezbollah to avoid an escalation, but new attacks took place as recently as Wednesday against up to 20 locations, according to the Lebanese NNA.
New talks are to be held in two weeks.
