Israel Excludes Lebanon from US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement

Israel has refused to accept one of the key conditions in a proposed ceasefire framework involving the United States and Iran.

According to officials, the United States has agreed to a set of proposals discussed with Iran, including a condition to halt conflict across all fronts, including Lebanon. However, Israel has declined to include Lebanon in any ceasefire arrangement.

On Wednesday (April 8), the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said Tel Aviv supports a temporary pause in attacks linked to Iran. The proposed ceasefire would last two weeks but exclude Lebanon, allowing Israeli operations there to continue.

In a statement on social media platform X, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports an initiative led by former US President Donald Trump. He said the aim is to ensure Iran no longer poses nuclear, missile, or regional security threats.

Netanyahu added that the United States remains committed to these objectives ahead of talks scheduled in Islamabad on Friday. However, he made clear that any ceasefire would not apply to Lebanon, despite it being part of Iran’s proposed conditions.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there was agreement on an immediate ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon.

Tensions escalated on March 2 after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel. The group said the strikes were in response to Israeli actions and regional developments.

Lebanese authorities say more than 1,500 people have been killed and over one million displaced since then. Israel has also carried out ground operations in southern Lebanon, aiming to establish a buffer zone.

There has been no immediate response from Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities to Israel’s latest position. Iran and the United States have also not publicly commented on the reported differences over the ceasefire terms.