For the first time in 34 years, government representatives from Israel and Lebanon met for face-to-face peace talks. According to a recent State Department statement, productive talks held in Washington, DC, on April 14 and brokered by the United States have led to an agreed ten-day ceasefire, which officially began on April 16. Both Israel and Lebanon understand the challenges they face from non-state actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, led by the US, both countries believe the effort is worth it - but will it last? Terrorists threatening Israel's "Yellow Line" also threaten the peace.
Ceasefire in Place - For Now
While still in the midst of a temporary halt to hostilities between Iran and the US, President Trump’s Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was busy closing on an agreement between Lebanon and Israel. As the Associated Press reported, “A fragile calm settled over parts of Lebanon on Friday as a 10-day ceasefire brokered by the United States took hold between Israel and Hezbollah, prompting thousands of displaced families to begin the journey home…” Critical to the success of the agreement is the curtailing of non-state actors, specifically Hezbollah in Lebanon. To that end, the State Department press released the text of the agreement a portion of which explained:
“Both countries recognize the significant challenges faced by the Lebanese state from non-state armed groups, which undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and threaten regional stability. Both countries understand that those groups’ activities must be curtailed, such that the only forces authorized to bear arms in Lebanon will be the Lebanese Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces, Directorate of General Security, General Directorate of State Security, Lebanese Customs, and Municipal Police.”
According to the agreement, Israel and Lebanon “affirm the two countries are not at war.” The agreement also establishes the sovereignty of each country. Key to the success of the ten-day ceasefire will be the continued talks brokered by the US, “intended to enable good-faith negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.” Furthermore, the initial period of the halt on hostilities can be extended by agreement between Israel and Lebanon based on a demonstration by Lebanon that it is capable of reining in non-state actors from carrying out attacks on Israel and “to assert its sovereignty.” Consequently, should Lebanon be unable to prevent non-state actors from attacking Israel, the agreement states: “Israel shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”
The April 16 ceasefire agreement includes some loosely relevant aspects of an earlier November 2024 Israel-Lebanon agreement that was based on the implementation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1701, calling for a “full cessation of hostilities,” specifically the attacks by Hezbollah and all military operations by Israel. It was up to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to police the agreement. Clearly, it failed. If nothing else, this latest agreement has the benefit of not being associated with the UN.
The IDF said Saturday morning that it had established a "Yellow Line" demarcation in southern Lebenon, and that it had already struck suspected militants approaching its troops along said line.
"Over the past 24 hours, IDF forces operating south of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings and approached the forces from the north of the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat," the military reported. "Immediately after identification and in order to eliminate the threat ... forces attacked the terrorists in several areas in southern Lebanon."
President Trump Pleased With Agreement
President Trump was pleased with the outcome of the April 16 ceasefire agreement. In a Truth Social post, the president said, “I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago. Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” This post followed an earlier statement where President Trump said, “I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE.”
If this truce holds, it will further isolate Hezbollah in Lebanon from its number one sponsor and benefactor, Iran, which is in no position to intervene. This means that during the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, Hezbollah in Lebanon will not have the facility to rearm. Tehran has little or no capability to ensure its own survival, let alone propping up a terrorist group like Hezbollah that is significantly weakened. Consequently, Lebanon will have a much better chance of upholding its end of the agreement, keeping non-state actors in check. If the ceasefire and follow-on negotiations are held and are successful, perhaps President Trump’s post will ring true: “It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!”
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