Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati met the US military general tasked with monitoring the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire on Monday after a truce was agreed last week between the two.
US Ambassador to Beirut Lisa Johnson introduced Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers to Mikati during a meeting at the premier’s office.
“General Jeffers will advance the ceasefire agreement by assessing implementation and providing military-technical advice,” the US Embassy in Beirut said in a post on X.
Jeffers will co-chair a five-member committee comprising the US, France, Lebanon, the United Nations and Israel. US President Joe Biden’s envoy, Amos Hochstein, will be the civilian chair until a permanent official is appointed, the US military said last week.
Mikati’s office said he stressed the need for full commitment to the ceasefire during Monday’s meeting. Mikati also reiterated the need for Israeli forces to withdraw from occupied Lebanese lands.
Shortly after their meeting, Hezbollah announced its first attack against Israeli troops since the ceasefire last week. Hezbollah said its “defensive strike” was a warning and a response to repeated Israeli violations of the truce. The strike consisted of two rockets, which fell into open areas and did not cause any civilian harm, the Israeli army said.
Israel’s defense minister vowed a “tough response” to Hezbollah’s attack.
Lebanon’s Parliament speaker accused Israel of violating the ceasefire earlier in the day after authorities said two people were killed and a Lebanese Army soldier was wounded in Israeli strikes. Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, while it has claimed it is going after hostile targets inside Lebanon. Israeli forces have also prevented Lebanese civilians from returning to their homes in many villages across the southern part of the country.
A US-brokered ceasefire announced last week is meant to see a pause to the fighting for 60 days. During that time, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are intended to deploy along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups in Lebanon are not to conduct any offensive action against Israel during this period, and Israel committed to not carrying out any offensive military action against targets in Lebanon, including on the ground, in the air and at sea.
