Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire while Lebanese and Israeli diplomats met for the fourth round of US-hosted direct talks in Washington.
On Tuesday, Israel adopted a new tactic saying that it would strike Beirut’s southern suburbs if Hezbollah attacked its northern areas. This implicitly confirmed a statement issued by Lebanese authorities on Monday regarding a US proposal, accepted by Hezbollah, to halt attacks on Israel in exchange for Israel refraining from shelling the Beirut’s southern suburbs, the party’s stronghold.
However, a Hezbollah leader said that the party would not agree to any “partial” ceasefire agreement with Israel. Though Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon, it did not launch any attacks on northern Israel.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army warned residents of the southern city of Nabatiyeh to evacuate and head north of the Zahrani River, which is approximately 40 kilometers from the border.
The Lebanese front witnessed a significant escalation in recent days, with the Israeli army advancing in southern Lebanon and reaching the strategic Beaufort Castle, Israel’s deepest incursion since 2000, when it withdrew from Lebanon after 18 years of occupation.
On Monday evening, Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Hezbollah and Israel, adding that both sides agreed to halt the fighting.
The Lebanese Embassy in Washington issued a statement saying, “Following a call between President Joseph Aoun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Lebanese authorities received confirmation of Hezbollah’s acceptance of a US proposal stipulating a halt to Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs in exchange for Hezbollah refraining from attacks against Israel, with the ceasefire to be expanded to encompass all Lebanese territory.”
The death toll in Lebanon has reached 3,468 since the start of the war, while more than one million people have been displaced, according to authorities. As many as 27 Israeli soldiers have died so far. (AFP)
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