New Delhi, June 17: In a significant step towards stability in the Middle East, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to expedite the establishment of pilot zones under U.S. supervision.
Ambassador Azar stated on the social media platform ‘X’, “Israel and Lebanon have agreed to accelerate the process of creating pilot zones under American oversight. The Lebanese army will have full control in these zones, ensuring no interference from non-state actors.”
According to reports from the U.S. Department of State, a fourth high-level trilateral meeting was held earlier this month between representatives of Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States. As a result of these discussions, both nations agreed to implement a ceasefire, contingent upon Hezbollah completely halting its fire and withdrawing all its fighters from the southern Litani region.
Under U.S. guidance, both parties have consented to quickly establish pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces will have complete control, with no presence of non-state armed groups. These measures aim to facilitate broader peace and security agreements.
All parties reiterated that the future of Israel-Lebanon relations should be determined solely by the two sovereign governments. They rejected any attempts by foreign nations or non-state groups to hold Lebanon’s future hostage.
Israel and Lebanon affirmed that they harbor no hostile intentions towards each other. Both nations pledged to enhance trust, resolve remaining issues, and continue direct talks towards a comprehensive agreement.
The U.S. Department of State also reported that delegations discussed a security framework based on talks held at the Pentagon on May 29. This framework aims to ensure the long-term sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of both Lebanon and Israel, which includes dismantling non-state armed groups and preventing their resurgence.
All parties condemned Iran’s attacks and destabilizing activities in the region, including support for proxy groups and other aggressive actions.
The U.S. reiterated its commitment to supporting the sovereignty of both governments, stating that any agreements related to conflict resolution should occur directly between the two governments, mediated by the U.S., without alternative negotiation paths.
The U.S. also pledged to continue supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces to enhance their capacity to establish effective government control throughout Lebanon. The U.S. reiterated Secretary of State Rubio’s statement from June 2, emphasizing that Hezbollah is a threat not only to Israel and the U.S. but also to Lebanon itself.
Israel asserted that its security and regional integrity can only be ensured by fully disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its infrastructure throughout Lebanon. It emphasized that direct dialogue, led by the U.S., is the pathway to resolving all outstanding issues and achieving lasting peace and security.
Lebanon stressed the need for mutual respect of internationally recognized borders, full compliance with the ceasefire, regional integrity, and complete national sovereignty. Lebanon committed to enhancing its armed forces’ capabilities with U.S. assistance to establish effective control across the country.
Both sides agreed to resume political and security talks during the week of June 22, aiming to reach a comprehensive agreement. The U.S. agreed to continue facilitating dialogue and communication between the two parties until then.
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