Lebanon: At least 15 rescue workers killed in Israeli strike

The Lebanese government says any agreement should be based on the United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The resolution includes the removal of the group’s fighters and weapons in areas between the Blue Line – the unofficial frontier between Lebanon and Israel – and the Litani River, about 30km (20 miles) from the boundary with Israel.

A potential deal would likely include the deployment of additional troops of the Lebanese army to the area and a mechanism to monitor its implementation, although details remained unclear.

Israel, however, wants the right to act inside Lebanon if there is any violation of a deal. There are no signs that Hezbollah, or the Lebanese government, are willing to accept such a demand.

Hezbollah has been severely weakened after two months of intense air strikes that destroyed large parts of its infrastructure and killed many of its leaders. But after the initial shock, the group seems to have regrouped, according to analysts, and continues to carry out daily attacks on northern Israel, although not with the same intensity.

Speaking in Beirut during a visit of Ali Larijani, senior advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the Lebanese government’s priority was to reach a ceasefire and implement Resolution 1701 in “its entirety, without any amendments or interpretations that differ from the content of the resolution and its provisions”. He added that negotiations to try to reach “an understanding” were continuing.