Daijiworld Media Network - Kuwait City
Kuwait City, Jun 4: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew a fragile ceasefire following US-mediated talks in Washington, even as regional tensions escalated after a deadly Iranian drone and missile attack on Kuwait International Airport.
The ceasefire agreement, announced jointly by Israel, Lebanon and the United States, is contingent on a complete halt to attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and the withdrawal of Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. The two sides also agreed to establish pilot security zones under the exclusive control of the Lebanese Armed Forces and to continue negotiations later this month on a broader political and security settlement.
The renewed truce comes after weeks of cross-border fighting that threatened wider diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran. However, the agreement faces uncertainty as Hezbollah was not a participant in the Washington talks and has not formally endorsed the arrangement.
Meanwhile, regional tensions intensified after Iran launched missiles and drones at Kuwait, causing significant damage to Kuwait International Airport. Kuwaiti authorities reported that at least one person was killed and dozens were injured in the attack, which damaged Terminal 1 and temporarily disrupted airport operations.
The assault marked one of the most serious escalations since an earlier ceasefire linked to the broader Iran conflict came into effect in April. Iran's attack followed renewed military exchanges between Tehran and Washington, including US strikes on Iranian targets in the Gulf region.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, reports indicated that sporadic hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters continued in parts of southern Lebanon, raising concerns about the durability of the latest agreement.
Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue in the coming weeks as Washington seeks to prevent further escalation and advance broader negotiations involving Iran, Israel and Lebanon.