Lebanon and Israel Negotiate Peace Amid Hezbollah Strikes

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended a U.S.-backed framework agreement on July 2 designed to end the conflict that began on March 2. The agreement, finalized via talks at the U.S. State Department, conditions the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the destruction of its tunnel infrastructure. While Aoun characterized the diplomatic process as a way to secure withdrawal without further bloodshed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces will remain in security zones across Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip as long as Hezbollah is perceived as a threat.

Concurrent with these negotiations, the Israel Defense Forces conducted strikes on approximately 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and a weapons transport truck in southern Lebanon, including areas near Bint Jbeil, Beit Yahoun, Kounine, and Baraachit. Israeli troops also neutralized underground arms caches in At-Tiri and Maroun al-Ras. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter reported that the Lebanese Army has begun sidelining Shiite troops and officers who are unwilling to confront Hezbollah to ensure functional military control south of the Litani River.

The situation remains volatile as Hezbollah has rejected the peace deal, sparking large-scale protests in Beirut. Despite the tension, the International Organization for Migration reports that over 640,000 displaced Lebanese have begun returning home following a June 21 ceasefire, although many border areas remain inaccessible due to ongoing Israeli occupation.