Hours before the announcement of ceasefire with the Lebanese group Hezbollahas IDF (Israel Defense Forces) sought to consolidate positions in southern Lebanonthis Thursday (16).
One Israeli attack destroyed what was the last bridge that still connected southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, over the Litani River. One person died and two were injured in the attack, according to the Lebanese Army.
A , on the way to the capital Beirut.
Israeli forces also continued attacks aimed at consolidating their hold on Bint Jbeil. The city is located at a junction of roads that spread across the south of Lebanon, being strategic due to its potential to serve as a base for advances to areas further north.
In reaction to attacks by Hezbollah in support of Iran, Israel has been carrying out a military operation since the beginning of March to create a “security zone” that would encompass around a tenth of Lebanese territory, in the south of the country.
More than 1 million people (about a fifth of the Lebanese population) have already been displaced as part of this operation, and more than 2,000 people have died in attacks concentrated in southern Lebanon and the metropolitan area of Beirut.
In the first statement after the ceasefire announcement made by the United States, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, .
“In these peace negotiations, we have two fundamental demands: first, second, a sustainable peace agreement – peace through strength,” Netanyahu said in a video.
Hezbollah called the ceasefire, and asserted that the maintenance of Israel’s military in the south of the country gives the Lebanese people the “right to resist”.
The US State Department, which has been mediating talks between Israel and Lebanon, said that during the ceasefire.
The note describes the ceasefire as a “gesture of goodwill” by Israel to advance negotiations (as requested by Lebanon) and says that the truce may be extended if the Lebanese government demonstrates “the ability to assert its sovereignty.”
Both Israel and Lebanon seek mutual recognition of their neighboring borders and the demilitarization of Hezbollah – especially with the sovereignty of the Lebanese Army’s use of force along the country’s border with Israel.
Lebanon does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel; and the current Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has sought to demilitarize Hezbollah, despite the group’s resistance.
The ceasefire is due to begin at 6pm (Brasília time) this Thursday. With a period of ten days, the truce should end on April 26th.
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* With information from Reuters and CNN
