File photo
Washington, USA: The US announced that Israel and Lebanon had reached a ceasefire agreement, following the conclusion of the second and final day of the fourth round of negotiations between the two sides in Washington.
The US State Department said in a statement that the two sides, at the direction of the US, agreed to expedite the establishment of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces would have exclusive control over the territory, excluding all non-governmental parties.
The ceasefire is conditional on a complete cessation of fire by Hezbollah and the evacuation of all its operatives from the area south of the Litani river, the State Department said, pointing out that steps aimed at strengthening the Lebanese army’s control will pave the way towards a comprehensive agreement for security and stability between Lebanon and Israel.
It explained that the two delegations discussed a security framework based on previous talks held at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) on May 29, which includes dismantling non-governmental armed groups and preventing their return to their areas of deployment.
The US State Department affirmed that both sides committed to continuing direct negotiations to resolve outstanding issues and reach a comprehensive agreement, noting their agreement to resume talks on June 22.
The US also renewed its commitment to supporting the Lebanese army and developing its capabilities to enable it to extend state sovereignty over all its territory, affirming its continued efforts to facilitate communication between Lebanon and Israel during the transitional phase.
Lebanon stressed during the negotiations the need for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities and respect for international borders and state sovereignty, while Israel affirmed its commitment to direct negotiations under American auspices to address outstanding security issues, the department said
