Beirut, Lebanon – A cautious calm prevailed in various villages and towns across southern Lebanon following the implementation of the third ceasefire agreement, brokered and announced by the US State Department, which came into effect at midnight Sunday.
The Lebanese public is anxiously awaiting the extent to which the parties will adhere to this agreement, given the violations that have marred previous ceasefires.
Calm prevails in the western and central sectors, with drone activity continuing.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported on Monday that an atmosphere of cautious calm prevailed in the villages and towns of the western sector, extending to the central sector of southern Lebanon, immediately after the agreement came into effect at midnight.
Despite this relative stability, the agency noted that Israeli army drones remained in the airspace over Tyre and its surrounding areas. Additionally, sporadic explosions were heard in villages in the western sector on Monday morning.
In a related development, local authorities have not yet recorded any significant return of displaced persons to their border towns, as fear and hesitation prevail among the residents. This stems from their apprehension about being subjected to Israeli attacks, which recur with every ceasefire or decision to halt military operations.
Details of the US decision and the launch of the security track at the Pentagon
The US State Department announced last Friday that the ceasefire between the two sides had been extended for an additional 45 days. This announcement came after the conclusion of the third round of direct Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, sponsored by the United States. That round was held last Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C.
The US State Department also revealed the next steps, announcing the launch of the “security track” between the two countries at the Pentagon on the 29th of this month. High-level military delegations from both sides will participate in this track to establish field arrangements. The “political track” negotiations are scheduled to resume on June 2nd and 3rd to discuss sustainable solutions.
Previous truce points and ongoing violations
These developments on the ground and in the political arena come after a series of diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict. US President Donald Trump had previously announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, beginning at midnight on April 16th. This followed a wave of intense Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanese territory since March 2nd.
On the 23rd of last month, the ceasefire was extended for an additional three weeks, but the Israeli side did not fully adhere to those commitments. This led to continued skirmishes and casualties, placing the current third truce under serious and critical scrutiny.
