Lebanon-Israel ceasefire hangs in the balance as president reveals details of US-backed talks

Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian

After midnight Wednesday into Thursday, a comprehensive ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel was announced. By morning, however, gunfire from both sides was still ongoing.

As a result, many were left wondering exactly what had been agreed upon with Israel.

At Baabda Palace, President Joseph Aoun surprised journalists by stepping out of his office and heading to the press room for an informal discussion.

What was the key takeaway from his remarks?

President Aoun said he followed the negotiations until 2 a.m., describing them as difficult. At one point, Ambassador Simon Karam reportedly considered temporarily withdrawing from the negotiating room because of Israel's refusal to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire, while Lebanon remained firmly committed to securing one.

The talks were on the verge of collapse before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervened. Given the complexity of the situation, Lebanon is relying heavily on the U.S. position to ensure the agreement succeeds, according to the president.

Externally, that is where matters stand. Internally, Lebanon is awaiting responses from the relevant domestic parties, particularly Hezbollah and, behind it, Iran.

Once those responses are received, Lebanon will communicate its position to the United States, which is expected to proceed accordingly. Washington is anticipated to establish an implementation mechanism that could take effect within 24 hours of all parties confirming their commitment.

President Aoun described the agreement as a final opportunity for success, saying that otherwise each party would bear responsibility for the consequences. He stressed that the ceasefire would be implemented comprehensively rather than gradually. This differs from the proposed pilot zone concept.

The pilot zone would involve transferring an occupied area to the Lebanese army so it could remove weapons from the area. Lebanon proposed that the process begin in Zawtar el-Charqiyeh, Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, Yohmor, and Beaufort Castle because of their location along the Litani River and their proximity to Nabatieh.

According to the joint statement, these negotiations are expected to mark the beginning of ending the state of hostility between the two countries.