Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish pilot security zones in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives would be barred, the BBC reported citing a US State Department announcement.
A joint statement by the United States, Israel and Lebanon said the arrangement is contingent on a complete halt to attacks by the Hezbollah group and the withdrawal of its operatives from areas between the Israeli border and the Litani River.
The agreement, reached after a fourth round of US-mediated talks in Washington, also rejected attempts by any state or non-state actor to undermine Lebanon’s future.
The announcement came amid continuing hostilities, with Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket attacks reported on both sides of the border despite a partial ceasefire reached earlier. The parties are scheduled to hold further talks on June 22 with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.
