Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the two-week US-Iran ceasefire “does not include Lebanon,” directly contradicting the mediator who brokered the deal.
Why it matters: If Israel continues operations in Lebanon while the ceasefire holds elsewhere, the agreement could unravel before Friday’s talks in Islamabad. Lebanon has become the war’s deadliest front for civilians.
The contradiction
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that the US, Iran, and their allies “have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere.” Netanyahu’s office issued a statement hours later rejecting that characterisation.
“Israel welcomes the suspension of attacks on Iran. The ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” the statement said.
US silence
The United States has not publicly clarified whether Lebanon is covered by the agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on Wednesday morning, discussed the ceasefire in terms of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz but did not mention Lebanon.
The Lebanon front
Israel launched operations in Lebanon on 2 March after Hezbollah attacked Israeli positions in solidarity with Iran. According to Lebanese government figures, the offensive has killed at least 1,500 people and displaced 1.2 million.
Hezbollah has not issued a formal response to the ceasefire dispute.
What happens next
The ambiguity over Lebanon’s status is expected to dominate the Islamabad talks on Friday. Pakistan, as the mediator, will face pressure to clarify the terms it announced. If Israel continues strikes in Lebanon while the Iran front is quiet, Iran’s delegation may argue the ceasefire has been violated.