Beirut (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Tom Barrack, US Special Envoy for Syria, said on Monday that Israel must maintain its commitments to the ceasefire deal with Lebanon, which ended its war with Hezbollah and was signed in November 2024.
Under the agreement, both the Israeli defence forces and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, Israel chose to keep its forces in “strategic” positions close to the Lebanon border. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government undertook a process to demilitarise the militant group.
Why is the US pressing Israel on ceasefire compliance?
Barack, after a discussion in Beirut with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, said,
“I think the Lebanese government has done their part. They’ve taken the first step. Now what we need is Israel to comply.”
Asked by journalists if he expected Israel to fully withdraw from Lebanese territory, Barrack said,
“That’s exactly the next step”
Required. The US diplomat stated,
“The next step is to involve Israel, and we need an economic plan focused on prosperity, restoration, and renovation”
for Lebanon, which has been saddled by intense political and economic situations in recent years.
He said the US was
“in the process of now discussing with Israel what their position is”,
Adding that
“in the next few weeks you’re going to see progress on all sides.”
“It means a better life for the people… and at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue”
In the region, he added.
How has the Lebanese government advanced demilitarisation efforts?
Less than two weeks after Lebanon’s cabinet assigned the army to create a plan to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end, the US diplomat’s visit occurred. A second cabinet session on August 7 addressed a US proposal that outlines a timetable for Hezbollah’s disarmament, with Washington urging Lebanon to act on the issue.
The Lebanese cabinet approved the introduction of the US text, which details 11 purposes, including “ensuring the sustainability” of the November truce deal with Israel, and
“the gradual end of the armed presence of all non-governmental entities, including Hezbollah, in all Lebanese territory”.
How does Israel continue airstrikes despite the announced ceasefire?
On the other hand, Israel has consistently carried out airstrikes in Lebanon despite its issuing a ceasefire on November 27, 2024. Since the ceasefire, the IDF has conducted roughly 500 airstrikes and various ground operations against Hezbollah assets throughout Lebanon. Most of these air and ground strikes have occurred throughout southern Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley, and areas north and south of the Litani River.
