The US is set to deepen its footprint in Lebanon as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending more than a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. According to details of the agreement shared with Middle East Eye by current and former US and Arab officials, the 60-day ceasefire will see all Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanon in phases, with Hezbollah moving north of the Litani River.
The deal which was announced late Tuesday is broadly based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and was supposed to see the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) deployed to southern Lebanon.
As per the deal, the Lebanese army, with assistance from Unifil, will be deployed to the south to ensure that Hezbollah does not re-enter the area between the Israeli border and the Litani.
"By day 60 there will be no Israeli or Hezbollah troops in southern Lebanon," a senior Arab official told Middle East Eye.
The agreement, which seeks to end more than a year of fighting that has claimed more than 3,700 lives in Lebanon, will also see the US deploy technical military advisers to Lebanon and see Washington provide additional funds to the Lebanese army.
The US will also provide oversight on Hezbollah's withdrawal and a military official - likely from Central Command (Centcom) - will head an international committee that will coordinate with hundreds of soon-to-be-deployed French soldiers as part of a beefed-up UN peacekeeping mission.
A senior US official told MEE that Israel will not be granted the right to attack Lebanon based on any suspicious movements. Israel will have to report any movement it deems suspicious to the international committee, which in turn will inform the Lebanese army to take the necessary action.
If the Lebanese army fails to act after receiving a complaint regarding suspicious activities south of the Litani or in any Lebanese area, Israel will consider the agreement void and resume its attacks on Lebanon.
The US is not expected to deploy additional troops on the ground. Instead, the pending ceasefire is set to expand the 10,000-strong Unifil peacekeeping mission. Hundreds of French soldiers are expected to deploy to Lebanon as part of Unifil, according to the former US and Arab official.
The agreement will also deepen the US's ongoing efforts to support the Lebanese military. The US started funding the Lebanese army in 2005 after a protest movement prompted the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country.
In the last 20 years, Washington has been the army's largest donor, giving more than $2.5bn in support to the military, which is seen as a national institution that crosses sectarian and political divides.
The sources told MEE that the army has already recruited 1,500 troops and seeks to bring on board roughly 3,500 more in the next four months.
The US will also beef up training, equipment and reimbursement funds to the army. Washington is also speaking with Saudi Arabia and Qatar about providing funds to the Lebanese forces to pay additional salaries. Qatar already provides funds to the cash-strapped Lebanese army, pledging $60m in 2022 to support soldiers' salaries.
Lebanon was in the midst of a disastrous financial crisis before Hezbollah began launching missiles and drones at Israel on 8 October 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians under attack in Gaza.
The ceasefire will also include a renewed commitment to several other UN Security Council resolutions, including 1559 and 1680, which call for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Unlike other Lebanese armed groups, Hezbollah kept its weapons after the 1975-90 civil war so it could continue to fight against Israel's occupation of south Lebanon. Though Israel mostly withdrew in 2000, it continues to occupy the Shebaa Farms, which Hezbollah says are Lebanese.
Hezbollah's year-long attacks have displaced around 60,000 Israelis from their homes in northern Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli bombardment and the ground invasion launched in October have forced more than a million people in Lebanon to flee.
Poster Comment:
They tried something like that in the early 80s. 241 Marines, soldiers and sailors paid for it with their lives.
I was there, probably not a good idea, still. 23Oct1983. Sunday morning about 0600 as I recall.
US is financing both sides. Awesome.
#11: Dakmar To: watchman (#10)
Not on my dime! Of course I was never in favor of that Summer Camp shit in the first place...
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-27 22:25:48 Reply Private Reply
#12: watchman To: Dakmar (#11)
Right now he's frantically searching the internet for some error I've made.
My problem: I just don't feel like waiting up for his gobbledygook reply.
Would you be so kind as to give him another little cuff when he returns?
Thanks much! I owe ya...
watchman posted on 2024-11-27 23:01:05 Reply Private Reply
#13: Dakmar To: watchman, The_Rock (#12)
Another round of Hanna-Barbara Cartoons? Seems harsh, but ok, to explode evil liar brains is usually fun too..:)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-27 23:12:26 Reply Private Reply
#14: Dakmar To: watchman, The_Rock (#12)
So neither of you are going to buy Christmas cookies from me this year? I am so dissapointed!
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 01:45:13 Reply Private Reply
#15: Dakmar To: Esso, Kim, ghostrider (#14)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 01:57:43 Reply Private Reply
#16: Horse To: Dakmar, titorite, Esso, watchman, ghostrider (#15)
The US needs to cut off all military and financial aid to Israel. The US sent a native born Israeli who became an American citizen to act as a special envoy to Lebanon.
Iran can flatten Israel. Don't know what they are waiting for. Elon Musk must have made some big promises when he met Iran's UN ambassador.
Horse posted on 2024-11-28 02:22:15 Reply Private Reply
#17: Esso To: Dakmar (#14)
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 02:23:27 Reply Private Reply
#18: Dakmar To: Horse (#16)
"Neocons" is the greatest misnomer since...(open for debate)
They were never conservative, and their song-and-dance routine has been filling dance cards with bronzed showgirls since the time of Barabus.
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:29:36 Reply Private Reply
#19: Esso To: Dakmar (#18)
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 02:34:09 Reply Private Reply
#20: Dakmar To: Esso (#19)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:38:49 Reply Private Reply
#21: Esso To: Dakmar, 4um (#18)
Neo - New
Con - Conservative
Neocon (2024) = Whackjob liberal Democrat nutcase.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 02:39:57 Reply Private Reply
#22: Dakmar To: Esso (#21)
New Yorkers...Juiss...
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:42:15 Reply Private Reply
#23: Dakmar To: Esso, Horse, BTP Holdings (#21)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:47:03 Reply Private Reply
#24: Esso To: Dakmar (#20)
You just can't be posting William Burroughs all willy-nilly. Kimmy and I will try to talk to you as much as we can tomorrow to get you settled down.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 02:49:08 Reply Private Reply
#25: Dakmar To: Esso (#24)
It's a good thing I've been holding my bladder for like six hours, I've been looking forward to a pissing contest for a long time.
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:52:08 Reply Private Reply
#26: Dakmar To: Esso, Kim (#24)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:54:37 Reply Private Reply
#27: Dakmar To: Esso (#24)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 02:59:54 Reply Private Reply
#28: Esso To: Dakmar (#25)
Goddnnit, I laughed so hard that I've got cramps and can't spell.
Lawsuit incoming.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:00:12 Reply Private Reply
#29: Esso To: Dakmar (#27)
I'll pay your (ground) travel. The lawyers are on your dime.
The hot babes are all mine. They like fat, rich guys.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:04:43 Reply Private Reply
#30: Dakmar To: Esso, Kim (#29)
Help me Rhonda, get her out of my heart...
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 03:15:02 Reply Private Reply
#31: Esso To: Dakmar, Dr. Kimmy, 4um (#29)
It's like giving Elon Musk a ride in my Clown Car.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:15:13 Reply Private Reply
#32: Dakmar To: Esso, Kim (#31)
A 1969 Mustang Mach I with the lightweight yet satisfying 351 Windsor 4bbl and the delightful C4 automatic? Canary Yellow!
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 03:22:41 Reply Private Reply
#33: Esso To: All (#31)
Here's the last single...
The Joe Walsh was great.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:22:52 Reply Private Reply
#34: Dakmar To: Esso (#33)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 03:25:28 Reply Private Reply
#35: Esso To: Dakmar (#32)
Find me a seller that will trade for a gawdy ring and I'll give you a thousand bux.
You be cool for 20 hours and I'll pay you 20 grand.
Blood diamonds don't appear out of thin air.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:36:17 Reply Private Reply
#36: Esso To: All (#35)
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:38:26 Reply Private Reply
#37: Dakmar To: Esso (#35)
See how Mick doesn't call everyone a retard?
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 03:41:26 Reply Private Reply
#38: Esso To: Dakmar (#34)
Don't fold until all the cards are dealt, brother.
You never know what's waiting in the wings.
Lookin' for Dakkie.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:46:41 Reply Private Reply
#39: Dakmar To: Esso (#38)
Can I borrow your toothbrush?
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 03:51:30 Reply Private Reply
#40: Esso To: Dakmar (#39)
Sure, I don't have teeth anymore.
Give me a couple thousand and I'll send you Doc's. I'll throw in a dirty set of scrubs for free.
It might give me the chance to see her in streets.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 03:57:58 Reply Private Reply
#41: Dakmar To: Esso (#40)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:02:16 Reply Private Reply
#42: Dakmar To: Esso (#40)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:07:01 Reply Private Reply
#43: Esso To: Dakmar (#41)
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:08:04 Reply Private Reply
#44: Dakmar To: Esso, Kim, Horse, ghostrider (#40)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:11:14 Reply Private Reply
#45: Dakmar To: Esso (#43)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:14:07 Reply Private Reply
#46: Esso To: Dakmar (#42)
EweToob rips my fucking heart out every Godamned day. I told you Kimmy likes slow songs.
Kimmy loves that song even though it's Pam's and my last song. I guess she revels on dancing onthe bones of my late girlfriends.
She isn't goading me to be mean to any ex gf's/wife or anything. Especially the one that's still alive and I talk to sometimes that she doesn't like.
There's no secrets in my life anymore except classified operational details or personal info.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:31:46 Reply Private Reply
#47: Esso To: Dakmar (#44)
When Doc tells me or when I pass out.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:34:19 Reply Private Reply
#48: ghostrider To: Dakmar (#15)
ghostrider posted on 2024-11-28 04:38:00 Reply Private Reply
#49: Dakmar To: Esso (#47)
I have fallen off a stage and kept singing with a concussion, who needs sheet music?
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:38:00 Reply Private Reply
#50: Esso To: Dakmar (#45)
Aside from the Ten Commandments and the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru, my guiding light is Ephesians 2: 8-10.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:40:53 Reply Private Reply
#51: Dakmar To: ghostrider, Esso, Kim (#48)
We need to get Esso up on stage to perform his bawdy rendition of Terry Jacks "Seasons In The Sun". It changed my life.
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:42:33 Reply Private Reply
#52: Dakmar To: Esso (#50)
The Dirty Dozen! :)
Did I miss the point yet again?
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:45:22 Reply Private Reply
#53: Esso To: Dakmar, Horse, 4um (#49)
I feel bad about that. Maybe we should send him a million dollars or something.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:45:34 Reply Private Reply
#54: Dakmar To: Esso, Horse (#53)
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:48:21 Reply Private Reply
#55: Esso To: Dakmar (#51)
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:48:48 Reply Private Reply
#56: Esso To: Dakmar (#52)
Yer fine, the best that ever was.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:50:58 Reply Private Reply
#57: Dakmar To: Esso (#55)
But they still pay your heavy trash removal fees, so there's that...
Dakmar posted on 2024-11-28 04:51:00 Reply Private Reply
#58: Esso To: Dakmar (#57)
I'm just talkin'.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 04:55:32 Reply Private Reply
#59: Esso To: Dakmar, 4um (#58)
Kim's gonna have a handful tomorrow.
Esso posted on 2024-11-28 05:06:45 Reply Private Reply
#60: ghostrider To: Dakmar (#51)
I am sure it did, maybe round it off with Billy Don't Be A Hero.
ghostrider posted on 2024-11-28 07:56:14 Reply Private Reply