Lebanon discusses ‘deconfliction’ mechanism ahead of Israel talks
Details are scant on the cell, which Qatar and Pakistan say seeks to ensure the end of military operations in Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
Details are scant on the cell, which Qatar and Pakistan say seeks to ensure the end of military operations in Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has discussed a “deconfliction mechanism” for the country with United States Vice President JD Vance and the Qatari prime minister. The phone call on Monday focused on consolidating the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese presidency said in a statement. The hostilities between the pair have seen the Israeli military occupy parts of southern Lebanon and launch repeated air raids while Hezbollah has attacked northern Israel. Hezbollah’s backer Iran has made a ceasefire a key condition in its ongoing negotiations with the US, which went to war in Iran alongside Israel in February. Lebanon is due to resume talks with Israel in the US on Tuesday. Hezbollah has condemned the upcoming talks, demanding the full withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon. Qatar and Pakistan – which mediated the first round of US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland on Sunday – said the “parties agreed on the creation of a deconfliction cell” to “ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon,” but did not provide more details.
Vance later told reporters that the mechanism was intended to prevent incidents from spiralling “into a broader escalation”. “We do believe … that we can get to a place where Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are protected, Israel’s security is protected,” he said. “That’s going to require some coordination with the Lebanese armed forces and also it’s going to require the Iranians to rein in Hezbollah,” Vance added. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, wrote on social media after the talks in Switzerland: “1st real test: Lebanon deconfliction cell.” ‘Full freedom’ Lebanon has emerged as a flashpoint between the US and Iran’s efforts to secure a lasting peace deal. Lebanese and Israeli delegations began their first direct talks since 1993 in April, with a fifth round of negotiations due to begin on Tuesday in Washington. Tehran has long insisted that any peace deal with Washington must end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, Israel has maintained its attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah has fought back.
That has seen Washington issue increasingly harsh rebukes against Israel. Vance last week warned the Israeli leadership “you can’t just kill your way out” of national security crises, and demanded it stop “attacking” US decisions. Israel continued to carry out attacks in Lebanon until Saturday, killing dozens of people. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to occupy southern Lebanon “as long as is necessary”. Late on Monday, in an apparent bid to calm hardline critics within his government, Netanyahu insisted that the Israeli military will act with “full freedom” to engage any threat encountered in southern Lebanon, and that troops would remain deployed in the region for as long as deemed necessary. ‘Cautious calm’ It appears that US pressure on Netanyahu is having an effect, with the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon appearing to hold on Sunday and Monday. A spokesperson told reporters that Sunday was the first day since the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2 that peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had not detected any attempted air strikes from either side.
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