Hope for a ceasefire in Lebanon?
The security cabinet must decide on an agreement this Tuesday.
The United States believes that such an agreement is “close”, and France calls on the parties to “seize” the opportunity.
Israel's security cabinet is expected to vote Tuesday on a ceasefire deal in the war against Lebanese Hezbollah, an official said, with the United States saying such a deal was “close”. These announcements were made after an intensification in recent days of deadly Israeli strikes against strongholds of the pro-Iranian movement in Lebanon, while international actors redoubled their efforts towards a ceasefire.
An Israeli decision this Tuesday?
The day after the deadly Hamas attack in Israel, on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah opened a front against Israel in support of its Palestinian ally, as the Israeli offensive began which continues today. After weakening Hamas in Gaza, the IDF intensified its operations in Lebanon by launching an intense bombing campaign starting September 23 on Hezbollah strongholds. The Israeli security cabinet “will decide on Tuesday evening” on a ceasefire agreement, a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity, without providing further details.
A 60-day truce
According to the American news site Axios (new window)the agreement is based on an American project providing for a 60-day truce during which Hezbollah and the Israeli army would withdraw from southern Lebanon, bordering northern Israel, to allow the Lebanese army to deploy there. It includes the establishment of an international committee to monitor its application, according to Axios. The site reports American assurances to support Israeli military action in the event of hostile actions by Hezbollah.
The mediations are based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended the previous war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and which stipulates that only the Lebanese army and peacekeepers can be deployed on the southern border of Lebanon.
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This Monday, the Israeli army claimed to have struck in about 25 targets linked to Hezbollah in the southern suburbs, south and east of Lebanon in an hour. At least 12 people were killed in raids in the southern Tire region, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Hezbollah, for its part, has at least 30 projectiles on Israel, the army indicated the day after 50 rocket and drone attacks claimed by the Lebanese movement against Israeli regions including Tel Aviv (center), a record since September .
The United States believes that a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon is now “close”said John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. The French presidency, also very involved in this issue, urged Israel and Hezbollah to seize “as soon as possible”considering that discussions for a ceasefire have “advanced significantly”.
