Israeli and Lebanese officials have begun meeting in Washington, D.C., this week for a new round of talks aimed at reinforcing the fragile ceasefire, which has come under increasing strain amid a spike in Hezbollah attacks. According to The Times of Israel, this marks the fourth round of talks between the two countries as efforts continue to disarm Hezbollah.
Lebanese officials have said that Trump’s latest ceasefire deal involves Israel refraining from attacking Beirut’s southern suburbs in return for Hezbollah not attacking Israeli territory.
The ceasefire announced by Trump on Monday was intended to replace the previous US-brokered truce from April 16, which disintegrated in recent days amid increased Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and communities in northern Israel, and escalating threats of Israeli strikes on Beirut.
Although Hezbollah scaled down its attacks on Tuesday, it did not stop entirely, and a senior official from the Iran-backed group said it would not accept a “partial ceasefire” with Israel.
“We will not accept a partial ceasefire,” Mahmoud Qomati told AFP in a written statement, adding that “the Zionist enemy should know that any aggression against the suburbs could lead to a deeper and stronger response” from the group. The suburbs refers the Dahiyeh, Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
While Israel has stepped back from expanding IDF operations into the Lebanese capital, Hezbollah attacks have persisted. On Tuesday night, an IDF reservist and three soldiers were injured in southern Lebanon in a drone attack.
Despite these incidents, the IDF Home Front Command has eased safety restrictions for communities along the border, as most Hezbollah attacks are currently taking place within Lebanon. As a result, schools, workplaces, and public gatherings will be permitted to resume. The Home Front Command will conduct another security assessment this weekend.
At the same time, special meetings are being held in Israel to focus on healing and rebuilding the communities that have been affected by this war and by Hezbollah’s terror.
The Fellowship and our supporters continue to pray that the light of shalom—peace—will shine over the communities of northern Israel.
