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Welcome to The Logoff: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, President Donald Trump stated Thursday in a social media publish.
What’s taking place? The ceasefire, which Trump stated 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 aim of permitting house 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 individuals 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 would proceed to occupy throughout 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 stated that Lebanon ought to be lined by the identical ceasefire. Israel, nonetheless, continued navy operations; the day after Trump introduced the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli strikes killed greater than 350 individuals in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.
It’s unclear precisely what Thursday’s announcement might imply for US-Iran talks, which Trump stated Thursday might resume in individual 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, stated Thursday that “Lebanon is an inseparable a part of the excellent ceasefire and has an vital position in shifting ahead towards lasting peace within the area.”
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
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As at all times, thanks for studying, have a terrific night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
