“A surprise ceasefire… between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, negotiated by American and Qatari mediators, was announced Friday afternoon, reports The Orient-The Day. Officially entered into force at 4 p.m. local time (3 p.m. French time), “the eye was accepted by both parties, provided that neither was attacked by the otherâ€.
“We will respect the ceasefire if Israel respects it…affirmed Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Moussaoui, nevertheless stressing that the Lebanese Islamist movement reserved “the right to retaliate†in the event of Israeli attacks. “If Hezbollah does not attack us, then we are no longer in a war situation…declared for his part a senior Israeli official, according to comments relayed by the Lebanese daily.
The declarations of the belligerents constitute “a slight softening of tone, which comes at a time when Lebanon finds itself at the heart of the standoff between the United States and Iranâ€note The Orient-The Day.
Le Liban, « clé » de l’accord entre Washington et Téhéran
“Lebanon is currently the key to tensions between the governments of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu and to the future of the agreement signed this week between Tehran and Washingtonâ€analyse The Country. Because although the end of hostilities in Lebanon is stipulated in black and white in the agreement, the fighting has never stopped in the south of the country,
The bombings carried out Friday by the IDF – around 150, according to the army – were even “among the most intense in recent weeks, concentrated around the town of Nabatiye, in the south of the countryâ€reports the Spanish daily.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes have left at least 47 dead and nearly a hundred injured since the night of Thursday to Friday. The IDF, for its part, deplored the death of four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander.
This “recrudescence des hostilités†delayed talks “techniques†between the United States and Iran, which was to begin Friday in Switzerland but was postponed, says Al-Jazeera. “Tehran reportedly refused to send its delegation due to continued Israeli attacks against Lebanonâ€adds the Qatari channel.
The agreement “wavers” but “holds up”
“Iran’s withdrawal from talks with the United States, although temporary, was a blow to the framework agreement signed this week by President Trumpâ€analyse The New York Times. “However, while the already fragile truce with Iran is faltering, it is apparently holding up for now, with nothing indicating that the talks have been postponed indefinitely.â€he nuances.
But for the BBC, “l’escalade meurtrière”. Friday “shows once again that Donald Trump does not necessarily control the fate of his agreement with Iranâ€.
“The memorandum of understanding provided for a ceasefire in Lebanon as well as between the United States and Iranâ€recalls the British broadcaster. “However, the reality on the ground contradicted these commitments, leading Tehran to accuse Trump of failing to contain Israel….
The most résumé, “The events of the day demonstrated to what extent the agreement between the United States and Iran concluded this week remains fragile, and to what extent Lebanon occupies a central place in itâ€releve The New York Times.
