- 40-foot-long dead whale float to Kuakata sea |
- Bangladesh’s export earnings fall by 7.09pc in May |
- New Force Commander of UNFICYP Lt Gen Minhazul Alam meets PM |
- BERC raises retail power tariff by Tk 1.52 per unit |
US-backed Israel-Lebanon agreement bolsters ceasefire
A statement issued by the US State Department said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire following US-led negotiations.
According to the statement, the ceasefire depends on the complete halt of Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of all Hezbollah fighters from areas south of the Litani River.
However, the agreement does not establish a new ceasefire. Rather, it reaffirms adherence to an existing truce that was extended in May for an additional 45 days after an earlier ceasefire arrangement.
One of the key outcomes of the talks is the creation of pilot zones in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese Armed Forces would take sole responsibility for security and prevent the presence of any non-state armed groups.
US diplomats had expressed optimism ahead of the latest round of negotiations. Earlier on Wednesday, a State Department official indicated that while the discussions began slowly, significant progress was made over the course of the day.
Throughout the process, US officials have stressed that the continuation of dialogue itself represents an important achievement, regardless of the pace of progress, reports UNB.