An Israel-Hezbollah ‘Peace’ Deal?

Israeli officials told Axios that Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon’s terrorist militia, have reached an informal agreement, according to a February 6 article. The sources claim:

• Hezbollah will remove all its forces 5 to 6 miles from the border.
• Israel will reciprocate and remove some of its reservists stationed in the north.
• Hezbollah will also receive cash incentives.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy are mediating the deal. They hope to make it public in the coming weeks.

Peace? This falls short of Israel’s demand per a United Nations resolution for Hezbollah to withdraw past the Litani River, roughly 18 miles north of Israel. Hezbollah is still the de facto governing power in Lebanon and is still committed to Israel’s destruction. And it is very well armed.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies calls Hezbollah “the world’s most heavily armed non-state actor.” The center estimated in 2021 that Hezbollah’s arsenal includes roughly 130,000 rockets, including precision-guided missiles.

War in Lebanon? Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Hezbollah has skirmished with the Israel Defense Forces along the northern border in a show of support for its fellow Iranian proxy.

This deal may diffuse some tensions in the immediate term, but the core causes of the tensions remain. Until Hezbollah ceases being a threat, war in Lebanon remains a real possibility.

Learn more: Read “Will Hezbollah Join the War Against Israel?”