US guaranteed Lebanon that Israel will be forced into ceasefire – report

Trump administration reportedly gave Beirut assurances that Israel will be pressured to accept a ceasefire in Lebanon.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States gave assurances to the Lebanese government that the White House will bring pressure to bear on Israel to accept a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a report published by a Saudi-owned news outlet.

On Monday, the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat cited a ministerial source who said that an upcoming summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together American, Israeli and Lebanese officials was finalized only after the Trump administration guaranteed Beirut that the US will ensure Israel accepts a ceasefire.

The Washington talks, slated to begin later on Tuesday, will be hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and are expected to focus on ending the Hezbollah attacks on Israel and IDF operations in Lebanon, which began March 2, shortly after the beginning of the Iran war.

Hezbollah denounced the planned talks and urged Beirut to cancel its plans to negotiate a truce with Israel.

“We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity,” said Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem in a televised address on Monday. “We call for a historic and heroic stance by canceling this negotiating meeting.”

According to the Asharq Al-Awsat report, Tuesday’s summit will be limited to truce talks, with the US expected to lean heavily on Israel to accept a ceasefire.

Iran has demanded that the ongoing ceasefire with Israel and the US be extended to Lebanon, despite pledges by Israeli leaders to continue military efforts aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities.

“We want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons, and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations,” Netanyahu said on Saturday night.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that Israel will maintain a long-term presence in southern Lebanon, establishing a security zone south of the Litani River.