This story appeared in The Logoff, a each day publication that helps you keep knowledgeable concerning the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, President Donald Trump mentioned Thursday in a social media submit.
What’s occurring? The ceasefire, which Trump mentioned will start at 5 pm ET on Thursday night and run for 10 days, brings a short lived halt to greater than a month of battle, with the aim of permitting area for additional negotiations.
It follows a US-hosted assembly between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington, DC, earlier this week — the primary occasion of direct Israel-Lebanon talks in additional than 40 years. Trump additionally introduced on Thursday that he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White Home for additional talks.
What’s the context? The present Lebanon battle started in early March, simply days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group, launched an assault into northern Israel, and Israel has responded overwhelmingly: Greater than 2,000 folks have been killed in Lebanon and round 20 p.c of the nation’s inhabitants has been displaced.
Israel has additionally created what it calls a “buffer zone,” which it says it’s going to proceed to occupy throughout the ceasefire, inside Lebanon’s southern border.
What’s the large image? Lebanon’s standing briefly a sticking level in US-Iran ceasefire talks earlier this month, after Iran mentioned that Lebanon must be lined by the identical ceasefire. Israel, nonetheless, continued navy operations; the day after Trump introduced the US-Iran ceasefire, Israeli strikes killed greater than 350 folks in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.
It’s unclear precisely what Thursday’s announcement may imply for US-Iran talks, which Trump mentioned Thursday may resume in individual over the weekend.
But when the brand new ceasefire holds, it’s probably a optimistic signal. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, mentioned Thursday that “Lebanon is an inseparable a part of the great ceasefire and has an vital function in shifting ahead towards lasting peace within the area.”
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Right here’s a podcast rec that speaks for itself: Vox’s weekly call-in podcast Clarify It to Me on why it’s a must to be optimistic (and the distinction between optimism and hope).
As at all times, thanks for studying, have an important night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
