Consistently, media reports generally advance the idea that the ceasefire in Lebanon is “holding,” and the US expresses hopes that the Israel-Lebanon talks they’re hosting will lead to an even stronger ceasefire. The reality, however, suggests neither of those is actually the case.
Israeli military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir made the IDF position very clear during a visit to a Haifa base today, declaring that “there is no ceasefire for our forces.”
Lt. Gen. Zamir said that rather than seeking a ceasefire, Israel’s goal was to “maximize the freedom of action” they have in Lebanon, which since Israel attacks dozens of targets on a daily basis, suggests things are going as intended for them.
IDF Chief Lt. Gen. Zamir visits Haifa Naval Base | Image from IDF
Reports on the ongoing US-hosted talks are that Israel is making clear irrespective of anything else, they neither intend to agree to a permanent ceasefire with Lebanon nor will they withdraw their ground troops from southern Lebanon.
Though there were reports earlier this week that President Trump was frustrated about the way the ongoing Lebanon War is disrupting Iran negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that their goals were “aligned.”
Netanyahu said that the goals were not only to disarm Hezbollah, which has been the narrative pushed since Israel’s invasion in March, but to “demilitarize Lebanon,” which hasn’t been reported as a point which is being discussed at any of the US hosted talks.
