What we know about the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

 

Some people in Lebonon have celebrated the announcement, while areas hit by recent Israeli attacks show starkly the damage inflicted across the country(Image: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump has announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which took effect from 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT; midnight local time) on 16 April.

 Trump's statement made no mention of Hezbollah, the militant group in Lebanon that is supported by Iran and with which Israel has exchanged fire for six weeks. However, Trump urged the group to adhere to the ceasefire in a subsequent post on Truth Social, writing, "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time." Following the announcement, the US president also invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for further talks.

 Here is what we know about the truce.

What does the agreement say?

The terms of the deal specify that the ceasefire is set to last 10 days, with the possibility it being "extended by mutual agreement" if negotiations show signs of progress.

 The following additional information was provided by the US State Department: "Right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks" refers to Israel's ability to defend itself. To stop Hezbollah and other "rogue non-state armed groups" from attacking Israeli targets, Lebanon must take "meaningful steps." The parties involved acknowledge that Lebanon's security is solely the responsibility of its security forces. Israel and Lebanon requested that the US continues to facilitate further direct talks with the objective of "resolving all remaining issues"

The statement added that the truce was a "gesture of goodwill" by Israel intended to enable "good-faith negotiations towards a permanent security and peace agreement" between the two parties.

What have the various sides said about it?

Israel and Lebanon's leaders have both welcomed the truce, with Netanyahu calling it an "opportunity to make a historic peace agreement".

 Nawaf Salam, the prime minister of Lebanon, expressed the hope that the agreement will enable those who have been displaced as a result of the conflict to return to their homes. Hezbollah has also signalled a willingness to participate in the ceasefire but said it must include "a comprehensive halt to attacks" across Lebanon and "no freedom of movement for Israeli forces".

 Despite its extensive presence in Lebanon, the Iran-backed group is not a part of the security apparatus of the Lebanese government. Esmail Baghaei, Iran's spokesperson, praised the ceasefire and expressed his "solidarity" with Lebanon. While the United States and Israel claimed that Lebanon was not included in their two-week ceasefire, Tehran insisted that it was. UN Secretary General António Guterres commended the role of the US in facilitating the ceasefire and urged all parties to "fully respect" and "comply with international law at all times".

Europe will continue to "call for the full respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. She referred to the agreement as a "relief." Kaja Kallas, the head of EU foreign policy, said that the ceasefire should be used to "step back from the violence" and make room for talks about "a more lasting peace."

Why is Israel remaining in southern Lebanon?

Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops would continue to be stationed in southern Lebanon, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep, in spite of the agreement. More than 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced, most of them from the south, according to UN statistics. After Hezbollah launched strikes in southern Lebanon at the beginning of March, Israel reentered the area and declared it a "security zone." This week, Netanyahu stated, "We are there, and we are not leaving." The occupied area, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, would extend up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon, which is approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border with Israel. Additionally, he stated that all Lebanese villages near the Israeli border would have their homes demolished.

According to BBC Verify's research, Israel has destroyed more than 1,400 buildings in southern Lebanon in the weeks since the war began. Katz's remarks, according to Lebanon's Defense Minister Maj Gen Michel Menassa, reflected "a clear intention to impose a new occupation of Lebanese territory," Menassa said. European nations, Canada and the UN also criticised Israel's announcement.

 Cross-border attacks continued even after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah ended 13 months of conflict.

How was it negotiated?

Israel and Lebanon held rare direct talks in Washington earlier this week aimed at easing the war, which has seen deadly air strikes on part of the Lebanese capital of Beirut and fighting in the country's south.

 Trump said in his announcement that the deal was made after "excellent conversations" with Aoun and Netanyahu, but he didn't say if Hezbollah was involved in the talks in any way. He later urged Hezbollah to "act nicely and well during this important period of time" on social media.

Despite his appreciation for the truce, Netanyahu made it abundantly clear that he was making few concessions on the ground. He said Hezbollah had insisted on two conditions: the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and a principle of "quiet for quiet".

 However, the ceasefire announcement appears to have caught Israel off guard, reportedly even within the security cabinet of the government. Tonight, a well-known Israeli newspaper reported that Netanyahu called a security cabinet meeting with just five minutes' notice, just before the ceasefire was announced. Ministers were not given a vote on the ceasefire, according to leaks from that meeting.

What does this have to do with the war in Iran?

When the ceasefire with Iran was announced, there were mixed messages on whether Lebanon was involved.  Iran and Pakistani officials, who assisted in negotiating the deal, claimed it was, while Israel claimed it was not. US President Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt also later said Lebanon was not part of the deal.

 Israel launched strikes on Lebanon on 2 March in response to strikes launched by Hezbollah.  This occurred following strikes by the US and Israel on Iran, which prompted Tehran's retaliation against US allies in the Gulf and Iran's proxies, including the Lebanese militant group.

Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have continued to fire at each other, despite the Prime Minister of Lebanon pleading with them to stop. More than 2,100 people have been killed and 7,000 others wounded in Israel's attacks on Lebanon since 2 March, according to the country's health ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.  At least 260 women and 172 children are included in this total. According to the ministry, the war has resulted in the deaths of 91 health professionals and the injuries of another 208, with over 120 Israeli attacks on ambulances and medical facilities recorded. More than 1,400 buildings in Lebanon had also been destroyed, according to an analysis by BBC Verify. According to Israeli authorities, 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in Lebanon while two Israeli civilians have been killed in Hezbollah attacks over the same time period. On Thursday, the Israeli military destroyed the last bridge linking the south to the rest of the country, further isolating the region and renewing fears among many Lebanese that this could lead to a long-term occupation of some areas.

Source: BBC