Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib claimed that Hassan Nasrallah and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had agreed to a ceasefire prior to Nasrallah’s death in an airstrike. The ceasefire was communicated to US and French representatives, despite Netanyahu’s subsequent rejection. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had warned Nasrallah to evacuate Lebanon days before the attack. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,900 deaths and around 9,000 injuries in the region.
In a recent development, Abdallah Bou Habib, the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, disclosed that Hassan Nasrallah, the former chief of Hezbollah, had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a ceasefire just prior to being killed in an airstrike in Beirut. Speaking to PBS, Bou Habib indicated that this agreement was communicated to representatives from the United States and France. Nasrallah was reportedly in a bunker located in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh when it was struck by Israeli ordnance on September 27. Although the official Hezbollah statement did not clarify the circumstances of his death, sources cited by Reuters suggested that he sustained no direct injuries but rather underwent blunt trauma as a result of the explosive force. Bou Habib stated, “He agreed, he agreed (to the ceasefire),” emphasizing that Lebanese officials had fully consented to the cessation of hostilities following discussions with Hezbollah. The Lebanese House Speaker, Nabih Berri, consulted with Hezbollah prior to informing American and French entities about the agreement. Bou Habib further noted, “They told us that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu also agreed to the statement issued by both presidents.” This ceasefire was part of a larger initiative announced on September 25 by the United States, France, and other allies during discussions at the UN General Assembly. However, Netanyahu rejected the proposal the following day and ordered military operations to continue unapologetically. In a related note, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly cautioned Nasrallah to leave Lebanon days before his demise. Khamenei sent word through a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, urging Nasrallah to seek refuge in Iran due to intelligence indicating Israeli threats against him. This commander was also reportedly killed alongside Nasrallah during the airstrike. As the situation intensifies, Israel has commenced a limited ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,900 fatalities and approximately 9,000 injuries across Lebanon, exacerbated by the conflict’s initial onset after the Hamas assault on Israeli territories on October 7 last year, which subsequently ignited war in Gaza.
The recent escalation in conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has drawn international attention, particularly as both sides have engaged in a series of violent exchanges leading to significant casualties. The discourse surrounding ceasefire agreements highlights the fragile dynamics within the region, alongside the critical roles played by international powers such as the United States and France. Additionally, the internal dynamics within Hezbollah and its relations with Iranian leadership provide further context to the complexities of the situation, particularly in light of Hezbollah’s military strategies and Israel’s responsive tactics.
The statements made by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib underscore the precarious nature of ceasefire agreements in the context of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The tragic death of Hassan Nasrallah, amidst a backdrop of geopolitical maneuvering and intelligence-driven warnings, emphasizes the stakes involved in this conflict. The reported figures of casualties illustrate the rising human cost associated with the violent clashes, reflecting a dire need for sustained international diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
