Ceasefire Agreement Revealed Before Nasrallah's Death, Claims Lebanese Minister

 

In a surprising turn of events, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has claimed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a ceasefire shortly before Nasrallah's death in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, 2024. The revelation came during an interview with PBS, where Bou Habib stated that both the U.S. and French representatives were informed of the agreement.

According to Bou Habib, Lebanon had fully supported the ceasefire after consulting with Hezbollah, and this information was communicated to international leaders. Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly consulted Hezbollah before the decision was relayed. The minister added that Netanyahu had initially agreed to the ceasefire, but Israeli military operations resumed the following day.

The ceasefire was part of a broader 21-day agreement announced by the U.S., France, and other allies on September 25, following meetings between U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron at the UN General Assembly. However, Netanyahu ordered continued military action just a day later.

The circumstances surrounding Nasrallah's death remain unclear, with reports suggesting he died from blunt trauma caused by the blast's force rather than direct wounds. The incident has further complicated the already tense situation in the region, with Israel launching a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah forces on Tuesday. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,900 deaths and around 9,000 injuries in Lebanon since October 2023.