The first hours of a new round of Lebanese-Israeli ceasefire negotiations in Washington, aimed at consolidating Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, have already seen a new violation of the truce.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire on a group of people working near a bulldozer to clear a road in the Deir neighborhood of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.
Lebanese Civil Defense sources confirmed that two people were killed in the incident.
The Israeli army announced that it targeted what it described as “a group of armed men who posed a direct threat” to its forces in the Ali al-Taher Heights area, within what Israel calls the “security zone” in southern Lebanon.
“Flagrant violation”
Hezbollah accused Israel of a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire agreement, asserting that Israeli soldiers opened fire with machine guns on civilians working to clear roads and recover bodies from under the rubble in the Deir neighborhood of Nabatieh, killing two people.
Hezbollah emphasized that this constituted a clear breach of the agreement, which it stated it had adhered to since its implementation.
The incident highlights the contradictions in Israel’s position, as it comes while Tel Aviv is participating in US-sponsored negotiations aimed at solidifying the truce and reaching long-term security arrangements, while simultaneously asserting its right to conduct military operations within Lebanese territory.
On the eve of the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the army would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary.”
In a joint statement with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, he stressed the continued maintenance of what Israel calls the “security zone” within Lebanese territory.
Sensitive talks
The new round of negotiations are being held in Washington amidst a complex political climate, following the recent US-Iran agreement which has heightened the Lebanese issue within regional understandings.
The final statement of the US-Iranian talks held in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, announced an agreement to form a “conflict resolution cell” tasked with ensuring adherence to the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.
During the Washington talks, Beirut seeks to secure a clear timetable for the Israeli withdrawal from the areas where Israeli forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese delegation is also focusing on fully consolidating the ceasefire, deploying the Lebanese army, and ensuring the safe return of residents to their villages.
Despite the ceasefire agreement coming into effect, Israeli forces are still deployed deep inside southern Lebanon.
Official Lebanese statistics indicate that the war, which began on March 2, has resulted in 4,175 deaths and 12,164 injuries, in addition to the displacement of about 1.2 million people.
The United Nations Development Programme estimated the damage to buildings in southern Lebanon at more than $1.38 billion, with the complete destruction of about 11,000 buildings.
