Lebanese president discusses Israel truce with senior US, Qatari officials
Key takeaways
- Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel in support of Iran, has repeatedly threatened to derail regional peace efforts.
- After the talks in Switzerland, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X: “1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell.”
- Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary”, while Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected any Israeli “security zone” inside Lebanon.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke with senior US and Qatari officials on Monday about consolidating a ceasefire in Lebanon and forming a “de-confliction cell”, his office said, after US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel in support of Iran, has repeatedly threatened to derail regional peace efforts.
After a first round of talks in Switzerland on ending the regional conflict, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said on Monday that Tehran and Washington had agreed to set up a “de-confliction cell” with Lebanon “to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations” there.