Iran Israel and Hezbollah approach ceasefire

After more than a year of war in Lebanon, there are increasing signs that a ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia is imminent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet this evening to approve a 60-day ceasefire with Hezbollah, an official told the Times of Israel. The German Press Agency was told by government sources that the cabinet was "likely" to approve the agreement negotiated under US mediation. Lebanese government sources in Beirut also expressed optimism. The decision lies with Israel.

They were close to an agreement on a ceasefire, good talks had been held, said the communications director of the US National Security Council, John Kirby. Things were moving in the right direction. "But it's not done yet," said Kirby. However, he did not want to comment on details in order not to jeopardize the chance of an agreement.

The current agreement provides for a 60-day implementation period to allow Israel's military to withdraw, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Lebanese officials. The Lebanese army would also be stationed in the border area with Israel in order to prevent Hezbollah fighters from regaining a foothold there. An international commission, together with the UN peacekeeping force Unifil, which has been stationed in Lebanon for years, is to monitor compliance with the agreement.

The attacks are still continuing

For the time being, however, Israel and Hezbollah continued their mutual attacks. The Israeli air force again attacked the suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Videos on social media showed entire buildings collapsing as a result of the air strikes. Eyewitnesses reported that the explosions could be heard throughout Beirut. An army spokesperson had previously issued several calls to residents to evacuate. The Israeli army also continued to attack in other parts of the country.

Attacks on command centers are primarily intended to weaken Hezbollah's ability to recover from the heavy blows of recent months, to rearm and reorganize itself, it was said. Nevertheless, the militia again fired rockets at Israel. Security regulations were tightened in northern Israel, and schools in some areas are to remain closed today due to fears of increased rocket fire. Warning sirens sounded again in the north of the country during the night.

Army: Israel hit by more than 17,000 rockets

According to its own statements, the Iranian-financed Hezbollah wanted to use the attacks to force an end to the Israeli offensive against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist group had carried out a massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were taken hostage. The attack triggered the Gaza war, which has been going on for more than a year. Since then, Hezbollah, which is allied with Hamas, has fired more than 17,000 rockets at Israel, according to a statement from the army.

During the same period, Israel's military has attacked around 12,000 terrorist targets in Lebanon, it said. Hezbollah is now considered to have been defeated since the intensive airstrikes and a ground offensive launched by Israel in mid-September. The majority of its leaders have been killed. In total, more than 3,000 people have died in Lebanon as a result of Israel's counter-attacks. In both countries, tens of thousands of people are waiting to be able to return to their homes once the fighting has ended. In Israel, the return of residents who had fled the shelling from the north of the country was a declared war aim.

Israel's army: Years of fighting against Iran's arms smuggling

The government official quoted by the "Times of Israel" emphasized that Israel would accept a cessation of hostilities, but not an end to the war against the Hezbollah militia. Meanwhile, Israel's army has for the first time provided a more detailed insight into its years-long fight against the smuggling of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah. Covert routes through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon had been set up for the smuggling.

Over the years, thousands of trucks and hundreds of airplanes have been used to bring thousands of rockets and other weapons into Lebanon to attack Israel. The Syrian authorities were tacitly involved in this. Israel has been targeting these routes not just in recent months, but for years, the army explained. Israel will continue to take action against any attempt by Iran to supply weapons to allies in the Middle East.

Efforts also to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza

As Israel's most important ally, the USA has been pushing for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel for weeks. Its mediator Amos Hochstein traveled to Lebanon and Israel again this week for negotiations. Meanwhile, White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk is expected in Saudi Arabia today.

According to information from Washington, McGurk wants to discuss how a possible ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon can be used as a catalyst for a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for more stability in the region. Ending the Gaza war is considered to be much more complicated, also because Hamas is still holding hostages kidnapped from Israel.

Arrest warrant against Netanyahu: G7 continues to search for a common line

Meanwhile, on the second and final day of their meeting in Italy today, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven democratic industrialized nations (G7) are likely to once again address the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The G7 are looking for a common position on this issue. Italy, as host of the meeting in the small central Italian town of Fiuggi, is trying to find a formulation that all seven states can support.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu and his former defense minister Joav Galant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza war. All states parties to the Criminal Court are actually obliged to execute the arrest warrants. With the exception of the USA, this includes all G7 states. In addition to the USA and Italy, this also includes Canada, Great Britain, Japan, France and Germany.

SDA