US Iran Ceasefire Excludes Lebanon Amid Israeli Airstrikes Killing 200
Key Takeaways
- Lebanon excluded from US-Iran ceasefire deal.
- Israeli airstrikes continue in Lebanon amid the ceasefire exclusion.
- Two-week ceasefire framework exists, but Lebanon's exclusion complicates it.
Lebanon Excluded
Lebanon was excluded from the two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
“The Israeli army has carried out a wave of air attacks on Lebanon, killing more than 250 people on Wednesday, the bloodiest day since the US-Israel war on Iran began nearly six weeks ago”
US President Donald Trump indicated that Israeli strikes in Lebanon fall outside the ceasefire, describing them as a separate skirmish.
The exclusion was attributed to Hezbollah, with Trump saying, It's part of the deal – everyone knows that.
Despite the truce, Israeli forces carried out more than 100 airstrikes across multiple locations in Lebanon.
Lebanese media reported around 200 fatalities.
Divergent Coverage
The death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon diverged sharply across sources.
Al Jazeera counted at least 254 people killed and 1,165 wounded.
Reuters said some 91 people were killed in Beirut, with a total of at least 182 killed nationwide.
The United Nations described the casualty figures as appalling.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called the attacks a full-fledged war crime.
Hezbollah and Disarmament
The Trump administration maintains the deal does not include Hezbollah.
“The lack of a two-week pause in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be a dealbreaker for Iran’s regime as the ceasefire takes effect”
Hezbollah reneged on a U.S. negotiated November 2024 ceasefire by entering the war in March 2025.
Many experts say long-term regional security depends on Lebanon's government disarming the terror group.
Israeli security expert Edy Cohen said Hezbollah will never disarm itself.
Guila Fakhoury said Iran and the IRGC are occupying Lebanon through their proxy Hezbollah.
Calls for Peace Talks
Netanyahu said he instructed his cabinet to begin direct talks with Lebanon but wants Hezbollah disarmed.
Christy Mady said we need these peace talks to happen.
Wassim Aboutanos said the country needs a greater voice to help resolve the conflict.
The conflicting interpretations of the ceasefire underscore the fragile nature of the regional conflict.
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