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Welcome to The Logoff: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, President Donald Trump mentioned Thursday in a social media publish.
What’s occurring? The ceasefire, which Trump mentioned will start at 5 pm ET on Thursday night and run for 10 days, brings a short lived halt to greater than a month of conflict, with the objective of permitting area for additional negotiations.
It follows a US-hosted assembly between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington, DC, earlier this week — the primary occasion of direct Israel-Lebanon talks in additional than 40 years. Trump additionally introduced on Thursday that he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White Home for additional talks.
What’s the context? The present Lebanon battle started in early March, simply days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group, launched an assault into northern Israel, and Israel has responded overwhelmingly: Greater than 2,000 folks have been killed in Lebanon and round 20 p.c of the nation’s inhabitants has been displaced.
Israel has additionally created what it calls a “buffer zone,” which it says it can proceed to occupy through the ceasefire, inside Lebanon’s southern border.
What’s the large image? Lebanon’s standing briefly appeared to be a sticking level in US-Iran ceasefire talks earlier this month, after Iran mentioned that Lebanon must be coated by the identical ceasefire. Israel, nevertheless, continued army operations; the day after Trump introduced the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli strikes killed greater than 350 folks in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.
It’s unclear precisely what Thursday’s announcement may imply for US-Iran talks, which Trump mentioned Thursday may resume in particular person over the weekend.
But when the brand new ceasefire holds, it’s seemingly a optimistic signal. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, mentioned Thursday that “Lebanon is an inseparable a part of the excellent ceasefire and has an vital function in shifting ahead towards lasting peace within the area.”
And with that, it’s time to log out…
Right here’s a podcast rec that speaks for itself: Vox’s weekly call-in podcast Clarify It to Me on why it’s important to be optimistic (and the distinction between optimism and hope).
As at all times, thanks for studying, have an excellent night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
