Lebanon: seven dead in Israeli strikes on Tyre, according to civil defense

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that the joint declaration resulting from the fourth round of Israeli-Lebanese negotiations under the auspices of the United States included “very important points in favor of Lebanon and represented the last opportunity to move towards a definitive and comprehensive ceasefire, with the understanding that each party would assume responsibility if it did not respond.”

A Lebanese official confirmed to Arab News that the president was awaiting Hezbollah’s response, which is expected to come through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

“All parties have been informed of the outcome of the negotiation session,” the official said. “What was published is not a ceasefire agreement. It is a declaration whose content and conditions Israel fully accepted. What remains is Hezbollah’s response.”

Once this response is given, the official added, Washington will be informed and the next steps will be determined.

Speaking informally to journalists at Baabda Palace, Aoun said Washington would “determine the timetable and mechanism for implementing the ceasefire, which could begin 24 hours after notification of approval and once the necessary guarantees have been provided.” American President Donald Trump would be the direct guarantor of implementation.

The president said that “the Lebanese negotiating delegation, led by Ambassador Simon Karam, held firm throughout the two sessions convened over the past two days.”

Wednesday’s session was difficult: Mr. Karam was pressured to suspend the round of negotiations and insisted on refusing to discuss any further issues until a comprehensive ceasefire was in place. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was invited to restart the talks, which concluded with the acceptance of the Lebanese demand for a comprehensive ceasefire.

Mr. Aoun said that “from Wednesday morning until the early hours of Thursday, we remained in contact with international and national actors to lock in the comprehensive ceasefire, and a number of brotherly and friendly states also played a role in exerting pressure on behalf of Lebanon.”

The joint Israeli-Lebanese statement, published at dawn Thursday, Beirut time, specifies that “both Israel and Lebanon have agreed, under the aegis of the United States, to implement a ceasefire. Its entry into force is subject to a total cessation of Hezbollah fire and the withdrawal of all its personnel from the area located south of the Litani. Hezbollah must also enable the rapid establishment of pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces – and only the Lebanese Armed Forces – exercise exclusive control over the territory, with any non-state armed actor excluded from the picture.”

Israel declared that “its security and respect for its territorial integrity can only be ensured by the disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantling of its infrastructure throughout Lebanese territory.”

For its part, Lebanon stressed “the need for mutual respect for internationally recognized borders and the urgent need for full implementation of the cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the principles of territorial integrity and full sovereignty of Lebanon is committed to strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese army, with the support of the United States, in order to exercise effective control over the entire country.

All parties declared that “the future of relations between Israel and Lebanon must be decided exclusively by the two sovereign governments.” They rejected any attempt, on the part of a state or a non-state actor, to take the future of Lebanon hostage.

According to the statement, “Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed that they have no hostile intentions towards each other and committed to continuing direct negotiations in order to build confidence, resolve all outstanding issues and work towards the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement between the two countries.”

For their part, the United States reiterated its “constant support for the two governments in the exercise of their sovereignty”. They added that “any cessation of hostilities agreement must be concluded directly between the two governments, under the auspices of the United States, and not through a separate channel.”

The United States also stressed its intention to “support the Lebanese armed forces, with the aim of improving their capacity and allowing the effective exercise of sovereignty over the entire Lebanese territory.”

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, President Aoun said that “Lebanon suggested starting the implementation of ‘pilot zones’ in the towns of Zawtar Al-Sharqiya, Zawtar Al-Gharbiya, Yahmar and the area surrounding Beaufort Castle (Qalaat Al-Shaqif), which was occupied during the week last by Israel, because of their symbolic importance and their proximity to the town of Nabatieh”.

Mr. Aoun underlined “the great importance of the agreement reached in Washington in the interest of Lebanon and the region. It represents a real opportunity to move from escalation to stability. The success of this process depends on the clear commitment of all parties concerned and the implementation Full implementation of agreed measures. The Lebanese state entered into these negotiations with a strong sense of national responsibility. The main objective was to protect Lebanon, guarantee the security of its citizens and maintain stability. Everyone must approach recent developments with a sense of national responsibility and seize this opportunity to strengthen security and stability throughout the country.”

Mr. Aoun also said that the United States had played a mediator and pivotal role in these negotiations, helping to bring the parties closer to an agreement through a firm approach and sustained efforts to resolve differences.

The Lebanese president added that “this agreement differs from the one concluded on November 27, 2024, not only by its substance but also by the political context which surrounds it, which strengthens its prospects for sustainability and success”. “It now depends on the role of US President Donald Trump and his administration in securing the necessary guarantees to solidify the agreement and ensure compliance by all parties.”

Meanwhile, Israeli forces withdrew from the town of Dibbin in the Marjayoun district, south of the Litani River, during the morning, while the Lebanese army announced its deployment to the town’s junction later in the afternoon.

A Lebanese military source told Arab News that “following the Israeli withdrawal from Dibbin, the Lebanese army lifted roadblocks, reopened access to the town and began clearing military obstructions from the area.”

As for whether the entry into the city was based on a clear Israeli withdrawal timetable, the military source said: “There is no withdrawal timetable.

The military source confirmed that the Lebanese army remained deployed south of the Litani River wherever there was no presence of the Israeli army, whether in Hasbaya, Marjayoun or even in the city of Tyre.

Regarding the possibility of setting up pilot zones and the timetable for such an initiative, the source said: “The army command has not been informed about the establishment of pilot zones: “The army command has not been informed of anything on this matter so far.

The term “pilot zone” emerged as a phased implementation mechanism aimed at dismantling security impasses that are geographically and politically entrenched. However, its application in Lebanon could clash with the realities of Lebanon’s complex ground conditions.

A Lebanese military source estimated that the adoption of this term “reduces the likelihood of an overall failure, because it focuses on testing a specific and limited geographical area in the sector south of the Litani River, serving as a laboratory to assess the extent of the parties’ commitment and the seriousness of the guarantees”.

The source explained that the arrangements assumed that “the Israeli army would withdraw completely, while units of the Lebanese armed forces would move in and assume exclusive military, security and administrative control. No parallel authorities or weapons outside the framework of legitimacy This means the withdrawal of all Hezbollah elements from the region, the dismantling of the party’s infrastructure and the prohibition of its re-establishment, so that the region is completely demilitarized of all. military presence not affiliated with the sovereign government”.

In a speech Thursday afternoon, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem said that “the result of the absurd, humiliating and shameful direct negotiations is reflected in Washington’s announcement, which sets out the fundamental principles by which The United States and Israel are considering Lebanon’s submission to the Greater Israel project.

Qassem declared that “the outcome of the negotiations is rejected in its entirety by large segments of the Lebanese people.”

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political council, announced that Hezbollah rejected “any partial agreement or any compromise formula in matters of security.”

Qamati said “the pilot zones and the disarmament project constitute a strategic step backwards.”

While Hezbollah insists on the condition of a complete Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon, the Lebanese negotiator, according to the official source, believes that “Lebanon considers the pilot zones as an opportunity to guarantee progressive Israeli withdrawals and to restore sovereignty in certain sectors”.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Israeli army asked Lebanese citizens not to travel south of the Zahrani River “for their own safety.” It also continued to target vehicles and individuals in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese and Israeli parties are to hold a new round of negotiations on June 22, “with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement.” “The United States agreed to continue to facilitate communication between the parties in the meantime,” according to the joint statement.