State Department calls agreement 'progress toward comprehensive peace and security accord'

Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. [AFP]
Smoke rises from an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. [AFP]

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a truce, Reuters, AP and other international news agencies reported Wednesday.

The Department of State announced the agreement in a joint statement released immediately after U.S.-mediated talks held in Washington.

The truce is contingent on a complete halt to attacks by Hezbollah — the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon — and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah fighters from areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon.

"This step will enable progress toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement," the countries said in the statement, adding that all parties "reaffirmed that the future relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be determined by the two sovereign governments."

The statement also said that "both sides reject any attempt by any state or non-state actor to hold Lebanon's future hostage."

AP said the language was directed at Iran.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, has demanded that Israel halt its attacks on Lebanon as part of ongoing end-of-war negotiations with the United States.

The situation in Lebanon had emerged as the single biggest variable in those U.S.-Iran negotiations.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com