Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Framework Agreed, But Hezbollah Absent
After two days of US-mediated talks in Washington, Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday announced agreement on a conditional ceasefire framework. The joint statement calls for a 'complete cessation' of fire by Hezbollah and envisions a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, with 'pilot zones' to be established as part of the process. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the agreement as the 'last chance' for a comprehensive truce and said it could come into force within 24 hours of all parties' approval.
However, significant obstacles remain. Hezbollah has not signed onto the agreement and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Thursday that Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon would continue. Iranian drone strikes hit Kuwait's main airport on June 3, killing one person and wounding dozens — the latest exchange in the broader US-Iran conflict — with satellite imagery appearing to contradict US claims that all Iranian missiles were intercepted. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, warned that enemies defeated on the battlefield were now pursuing 'hybrid warfare' to sow internal divisions, signaling Tehran's intent to maintain pressure. One UN peacekeeper was also killed by mortar fire near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon.
The stakes are high across the region. The US House of Representatives passed a measure seeking to halt President Trump from further military action against Iran without Congressional authorization, though the Senate remains far from acting. Gulf states are reassessing long-standing security assumptions after 100 days of the US-Israel war on Iran, with energy infrastructure damage keeping oil supply disruptions acute. Analysts warn that even a peace deal would take months or years to ease the energy and supply chain crisis stemming from Strait of Hormuz tensions.
Sources
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