Israel and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish a number of "pilot" security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah would be banned. The deal followed a fourth round of US-mediated talks at the State Department, with Washington serving as the principal broker.
In a joint statement, the two sides said the truce is contingent on "a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives" from areas south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese army to take full control of the zones. "These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement," the statement said.
The agreement remains shaky. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that in Lebanon "there is no ceasefire for our forces." The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced over a million since fighting escalated earlier this year.