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Israel, Hezbollah Exchange Fire after Trump Announcement
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Israel, Hezbollah Exchange Fire after Trump Announcement

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Lebanon is sending negotiators to Washington for a second round of talks focused on a ceasefire with Israel, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah.
  • Lebanese officials suspect Iran and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu share an interest in obstructing a ceasefire, with Netanyahu driven by electoral concerns and Tehran using Lebanon as a bargaining chip.
  • The American initiative proposed Hezbollah halt fire first for 48 hours, followed by Israeli de-escalation, but Israel has reportedly threatened to strike Beirut if Hezbollah does not comply.

Lebanon's negotiators are heading to Washington for a second round of talks aimed at securing a ceasefire with Israel, a critical demand amid heightened tensions with Hezbollah. The talks, scheduled for June 2-3, face an uphill battle, with little expectation of a breakthrough.

Despite the challenging climate, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun views negotiations as the "right choice" and the least costly path to ending the conflict and alleviating suffering. However, a senior Lebanese source revealed a growing belief among officials that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have converging interests in thwarting these efforts. Netanyahu's motives are seen as tied to personal and electoral considerations, while Tehran reportedly aims to keep Lebanon as leverage in its negotiations with Washington.

the right choice

— Joseph AounLebanese President Joseph Aoun defended the decision to pursue negotiations, calling it 'the right choice' imposed by the realities of war.

The source expressed Aoun's persistent conviction that ceasefire efforts will ultimately succeed, describing them as the "inevitable outcome of the current trajectory." The American proposal reportedly included reciprocal understandings, with Israel withdrawing its forces. Lebanon's delegation plans to focus solely on achieving a ceasefire, viewing the end of hostilities as a political rather than a security matter.

the least costly path toward ending the military confrontation and alleviating the suffering of the Lebanese people

— Joseph AounLebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed that negotiations remain the least costly path toward ending the military confrontation and alleviating the suffering of the Lebanese people.

Lebanon remains open to various post-ceasefire arrangements, including security agreements similar to those discussed with Syria, a formal end to the state of war, or a permanent cessation of hostilities. However, any move toward lasting peace with Israel would depend on the broader Arab position, led by Saudi Arabia.

Adding to the complexity, American officials informed Lebanese leaders that Israel threatened to strike targets in Beirut and its southern suburbs. This threat reportedly followed Israel providing intelligence to Washington alleging Hezbollah's non-compliance with an American initiative that called for Hezbollah to halt fire for 48 hours before Israel would gradually reduce its military operations.

the inevitable outcome of the current trajectory

— senior Lebanese sourceA senior Lebanese source familiar with the negotiations described the current obstacles to a ceasefire as 'the inevitable outcome of the current trajectory.'
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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