US-Iran agree Lebanon ceasefire, but Israel says its forces will stay indefinitely
The agreement ends military operations but Israel's insistence it will keep forces in Lebanon indefinitely raises questions about implementation and durability.
The agreement ends military operations but Israel's insistence it will keep forces in Lebanon indefinitely raises questions about implementation and durability.
A deal has been agreed between the US and Iran to end the war they are in. The agreement includes an end to "military operations" in Lebanon, but Israel says its forces will remain in the country indefinitely, a posture that could test the durability of the ceasefire.
As some Beirut residents attempt to return to their homes after previously fleeing, the long-term shape of the settlement remains uncertain.
BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen said the public are "right to be worried" as the consequences of the war will be felt for generations. "The Middle East is in turmoil," Bowen observed, as Iran and Israel have carried out attacks against each other throughout the conflict.
The deal's core framework—ending military operations in Lebanon while leaving the question of Israeli troop presence unresolved—mirrors the "hope rather than expectation" framing that has characterised earlier ceasefire efforts in the region.