Israel, Lebanon Agree to Conditional Ceasefire; Hezbollah's Stance Key

Israel and Lebanon have reached a conditional ceasefire agreement after four rounds of US-led negotiations in Washington. Announced in the early hours of June 4, the deal's implementation hinges on Hezbollah ceasing fire and withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon, a move that has been met with inflexibility from the group and its main backer, Iran.

The agreement, emerging from three months of intense conflict, aims to establish a ceasefire and create "pilot zones" under the control of the Lebanese army, excluding non-state actors like Hezbollah. A further round of discussions is scheduled for the week of June 22, with the goal of achieving a comprehensive peace and security accord. However, a significant structural flaw is the absence of Hezbollah, a key party, from the negotiations. A Hezbollah official stated the movement would not accept a partial ceasefire.

Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah, has echoed this firm stance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that Hezbollah "cannot be eliminated or ignored" and outlined Iran's own conditions for negotiations, including respect for its rights, an end to the war in Lebanon, and a de-escalation of regional tensions. Iran warned that any attack on Beirut would trigger a "large-scale resumption of war" in the region.

Behind the scenes, the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv appears strained. Axios reported that U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call, reportedly using insults and pausing planned Israeli airstrikes against southern Beirut. Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, "You are completely crazy. You would be in prison without me. I am saving your ass. Everyone is telling you..."

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Le Hezbollah ne peut être ni éliminé ni ignoré.