Dailyreport
Despite a slew of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran, the ceasefire in Lebanon is “holding,” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday.Blinken claims that the ceasefire in Lebanon is holding
On the fringes of a NATO summit in Brussels, Blinken assured reporters, “The ceasefire is holding, and we’re using the mechanism that was established when any concerns have arisen about any alleged or purported violations.”
Hezbollah and Israel are both accused of violating the ceasefire that went into effect last Wednesday, which put an end to a conflict that has caused widespread displacement on both sides and killed thousands of people in Lebanon.
According to Blinken, “I believe that at their core, both parties—that is, Israel and Hezbollah—through the Lebanese government wanted and still want the cease fire.”
However, we must ensure that it is upheld. And we’re committed to doing so,” he continued.
A group led by the United States and comprising France, Israel, Lebanon, UN peacekeepers, and others is entrusted with keeping the parties informed and making sure that infractions are found and addressed to prevent any escalation.
“We want to make sure that the mechanism we established with France to ensure that the ceasefire is effectively monitored and implemented continues to work,” Blinken stated.
We take action if there are suspicions that one party is breaking the ceasefire, and we engage the parties in some manner. That’s precisely what has occurred,” he continued.
After Hezbollah supported its affiliate Hamas through cross-border exchanges for almost a year after the Palestinian group’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, Israel intensified its campaign in south Lebanon in late September.
