Hezbollah's Qassem views sending civilian delegate to ceasefire talks as concession to Israel

On Wednesday, Israel and Lebanon both appointed civilian representatives to a military committee responsible for overseeing their ceasefire, signaling an expansion of dialogue between the two countries.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem condemned the Lebanese government's decision on Friday, describing the move as an "unwarranted concession" to Israel and a breach of previous government stances.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that the primary goal of these ceasefire discussions is to halt Israeli hostilities within Lebanon, despite Israeli officials framing the talks as a step toward potential economic cooperation.

Israel and Lebanon had signed a US-mediated ceasefire last year, but Israel has continued operations targeting Hezbollah positions. By sending civilian envoys to the military committee, both sides aim to broaden the dialogue beyond purely military issues.

Aoun explained that the negotiations focus on ending Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, securing the return of captives, arranging withdrawals from occupied areas, and resolving disputes along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated border between the two nations.

Additionally, Aoun told a visiting UN Security Council delegation that Lebanon supports the presence of international forces in the south to back the Lebanese army after the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission concludes at the end of 2026, noting that several countries have already expressed interest in participating.

Author: Connor Blake