Protesters gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs after Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington aimed at ending fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Eyewitness video released on 26 and 27 June showed protesters and motorcyclists on the streets, waving flags and honking as thick black smoke rose behind them. Part of a billboard could be seen burning as cars moved slowly through the crowd.
Reuters said it verified the location of the video as Beirut’s southern suburbs using signage, electric poles, road layout, satellite imagery and archival material. The date of the footage could not be independently verified, although Reuters reported protests in the area on the night of 26 June. No older versions of the video were found online before that date.
Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter signed the trilateral document with the United States at the State Department in Washington on Friday.
Few details of the agreement were released, and both sides described it as an initial step.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the deal marked the start of a “difficult journey” but called it “important”, “essential” and “necessary”.
Rubio later said Washington would help implement the agreement through a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon. He said the U.S. would also provide immediate humanitarian assistance worth $100 million in coordination with the United Nations.
He added that Washington intended to help improve the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, including through more than $30 million in existing U.S. funding.
The proposed agreement calls for Hezbollah to disarm and for Israeli troops to withdraw from Lebanon, although it remains unclear how the deal would be enforced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement would allow Israeli forces to remain in southern Lebanon if Hezbollah does not disarm.
He said the deal would also allow the Lebanese army to begin taking control of territory, starting with two “pilot zones” from which Israeli troops would withdraw.
Israel describes the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon as a security or buffer zone intended to prevent Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the agreement should allow Lebanese citizens to return to “fully liberated” land and rebuild their homes, with “no partner” in Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Hezbollah said it would not cooperate with the agreement.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Lebanese authorities would not be able to enforce the deal unless, with U.S. support, “they go to civil war”, according to pro-Iranian broadcaster Al Mayadeen.
He said Hezbollah would oppose any measure taken by Lebanese authorities and would hold on to its weapons.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began after the armed group fired at Israel on 2 March, days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. The attacks triggered Israeli air and ground operations in Lebanon, killing more than 4,000 people and displacing more than one million.
Israel says at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the latest round of hostilities. Hezbollah does not release figures for its fighters killed in the war.
Violence has continued despite earlier ceasefire efforts.
Israel said on Friday that its forces had killed seven Hezbollah members operating near territory occupied by Israeli troops. Reuters could not independently confirm the claim.
Lebanese state media reported that Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri on Friday, ordering residents to leave. It was the first such order since the latest ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect.
A senior Lebanese military official said Israel had recently added Mansouri to its occupation zone. The official said Lebanese farmers had continued to enter and leave the town, but had not been living there.
An Israeli military spokesperson said the leaflets were a reminder to civilians that the area was inside a security zone where Israeli soldiers operate.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 6th of August, covering the latest developments.
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