Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese Prime Minister Joseph Aoun
EA on International Outlets: After the US-Iran Talks in Islamabad
UPDATES: US-Israel War, Day 49 — Trump Camp Blusters Amid Its Blockade on Iran
UPDATE 0548 GMT:
The Lebanese army has restored a link between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country.
The military repaired and reopened the al-Qasmiyeh bridge. It also opened up new routes, after the Israel Defense Forces blew up all bridges over the Litani River as it enforced evacuation orders for all residents.
There is congestion on roads leading to southern Lebanon as people seek to return to their homes.
UPDATE 0544 GMT:
The spokesperson for UN head António Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement: “The Secretary General welcomes the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and commends the role of the United States in facilitating [it].”
Guterres hoped the temporary halt to fighting will “pave the way for negotiations”.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: A 10-day ceasefire of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon took effect at midnight.
Donald Trump announced the halt on social media on Thursday afternoon after “excellent conversations” by phone with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said Israeli and Lebanese leaders will meet in Washington next week.
Israeli ministers were angered at hearing about the ceasefire from the media, and without having voted on the matter. However, Netanyahu told an urgent meeting of the Security Cabinet, “When Israel’s greatest friend, President Trump, is acting alongside us in close coordination, Israel cooperates with him.”
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” Netanyahu said in a televised speech. He emphasized that his key demand is the dismantling of Hezbollah, and that Israel would maintain a 10km (6.2-mile) “security zone” along the border in southern Lebanon.
Having insisted on a halt to Israeli attacks before any talks with Netanyahu, Aoun rejected the Trump camp’s request for a direct phone call with the Israeli Prime Minister. He “reiterated his thanks for the efforts Trump is making to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon and to secure lasting peace and stability as a prelude to implementing the peace process in the region”.
A senior Hezbollah official said any ceasefire must not allow unrestricted movement for Israeli forces in Lebanon: “As long as the occupation remains on our land, Lebanon and its people have the right to resist by all means to force it to withdraw.”
The US State Department said that under the agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself “at any time, against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks”. Otherwise Israel “will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military and other state targets”.
Lebanon’s toll from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 2,196 killed and 7,185 injured.
Hours before the ceasefire took effect, two paramedics were critically wounded when Israeli forces targeted an ambulance in the town of Tebnine in the Bint Jbeil district.
