The US and Iran have agreed on a “deconfliction cell” aimed at ending the war in Lebanon, according to a statement released by Qatar and Pakistan, which have been mediating the talks in Switzerland.
The statement, released on Sunday, said that the US and Iran have “agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic, and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon as per the” Memorandum of Understanding, which states Israel’s war in Lebanon must end.
The agreement, welcomed by the Lebanese government, comes after around 100 people were killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since a new “ceasefire” was declared on Friday, as Israel continued heavy strikes. The attacks appear to have subsided for the time being, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday again vowed that Israeli troops won’t leave the country and will have “freedom of action” to carry out attacks.
“My directive and that of the Minister of Defense to the IDF is clear and has not changed. Our fighters in southern Lebanon have full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat to them or to the residents of the North. The IDF has no restrictions in this regard,” Netanyahu said.
“I stand firm that we will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon as long as necessary to protect the residents of the North and all citizens of the country,” the Israeli leader added.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also issued a statement denying that Israel intended to withdraw from Beaufort Castle following reports that said Israel was considering “symbolic” withdrawals from some parts of southern Lebanon, including the castle.
For their part, Iranian officials appear optimistic about the progress on Lebanon, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying that the “opposing side has been compelled to retreat on the issue of Lebanon and has ceased the killing and massacre of the oppressed people of that country, this is no small achievement.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X following the Pakistani-Qatari announcement that the deconfliction cell would be the “first real test” of the US commitments made during the talks in Switzerland.
