State Department: 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon – What the agreement provides and what conditions support it

Israel and Lebanon agree to a temporary ceasefire with the possibility of confrontation, terms of self-defence, limitation of Hezbollah and US mediation for further talks.

At a particularly critical juncture for the Middle East, US, Israel and Lebanon are attempting to forge a fragile path of de-escalation through a temporary ten-day ceasefire agreement, which is accompanied by strict security conditions, self-defence clauses and commitments to limit Hezbollah’s armed action, while opening a channel for broader negotiations focusing on boundary stability and the role of the Lebanese authorities in preventing new attacks, in a setting where diplomacy is being tested by tensions on the ground and balances remain highly fluid.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, a development that could boost efforts to extend the truce between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of fierce fighting.

Opportunity to reach a historic agreement

Israel is not directly in conflict with Lebanon as a state, but with Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and operates within Lebanese territory. Hezbollah said in a statement that “any ceasefire must cover the entire territory of Lebanon and not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video message, said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon. “We have a chance to reach a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said.

Israel has launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon, where its forces are engaged in fierce fighting with Hezbollah in the border zone.

What the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement provides

The State Department has clarified the key terms of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon:

– The initial duration of the ceasefire may be extended by mutual agreement between the two sides, provided there is progress in the negotiations
– Israel reserves the right to take “all necessary measures of self-defense” against immediate or imminent threats
– Lebanon commits to take meaningful measures to prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from attacking Israeli targets
– It is recognized that Lebanese security forces have sole responsibility for the sovereignty and defense of the country
– Israel and Lebanon ask the US to facilitate further direct negotiations
– The talks will aim to resolve all outstanding issues, including land border demarcation

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