Israel has agreed to release five Lebanese detainees as a goodwill gesture towards Lebanon’s new president. This decision follows a trilateral meeting with representatives from the U.S. and France aimed at establishing stability. Negotiations are set to resolve border disputes amid ongoing security tensions, with Israel conducting air strikes in Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from rearming.
On Tuesday, Israel announced its decision to release five Lebanese detainees, a move made in coordination with the United States and aimed at supporting Lebanon’s newly elected president. This statement was issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a meeting in Naqoura, which involved representatives from the Israeli army, the U.S., France, and Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s office indicated that the meeting resulted in agreements to establish three joint working groups focusing on regional stability. These groups will address key issues, such as Israeli-controlled areas in southern Lebanon, discussions concerning the Blue Line, and the matter of Lebanese detainees held by Israel.
According to Axios, negotiations are set to commence between Israel and Lebanon to resolve border disputes, based on information from an unidentified U.S. official. This official confirmed that the release of the five Lebanese individuals, who were captured during last year’s conflict, was part of the collaborative understanding reached between the nations.
The Blue Line serves as the U.N.-monitored boundary separating Israel and Lebanon since 2000. Morgan Ortagus, U.S. deputy special envoy for the Middle East, remarked that the released detainees encompass both civilians and military personnel.
On November 27, Israel and Lebanon reached a U.S.-French mediated truce, successfully halting over a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which included two months of intense warfare. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued selective air strikes in Lebanon, citing the necessity to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping militarily.
In recent developments, an airstrike by the Israeli military reportedly targeted a Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon, resulting in one fatality and another injury, as reported by local media. The ceasefire arrangement mandates Hezbollah’s withdrawal to the north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the border, and the dismantlement of all military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Israel had previously been scheduled to completely withdraw from Lebanese territory by February 18, following a missed January deadline, but has opted to maintain strategic troop positions in five key locations.
In summary, Israel’s commitment to release five Lebanese detainees represents a significant diplomatic gesture amidst evolving relations between Israel and Lebanon. This initiative coincides with ongoing negotiations aimed at establishing stability along their shared border, while the ceasefire continues to be upheld. Despite this, Israel’s military operations in Lebanon persist, underscoring the complexities of the regional security environment and the need for mutual concessions.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
