What are the specifics of the Israel-Lebanon cease-fire plan overseen by Washington?
A key condition of the cease-fire is the “complete cessation” of Hezbollah fire, and the withdrawal of the militant group’s fighters from the South Litani Sector.
This contingency has been brought into question amid the militant group’s staunch rejection of the proposal.
The parties in Washington also agreed upon the creation of “pilot zones” in which the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will take “exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors.” This would be carried out with the “guidance” of the U.S.
The joint statement issued by the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon did not indicate where such zones would be situated.
The Lebanese government later proposed a zone in the area of Beaufort (Shaqif) Castle in southern Lebanon, which was seized by Israeli forces last week, to serve as a model.
But in his statement Thursday morning, Katz said the IDF would at this stage be “remaining in the security zone in Lebanon up to the yellow line,” including in the Shaqif area.
