Hezbollah says Lebanon-Israel agreement in US is invalid

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Saturday that the agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington is invalid, calling it a ‘loss of sovereignty’. Representatives of Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated framework agreement in Washington on Friday aimed at resolving the conflict. ‘This agreement is not valid. The provisions of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding must be implemented. The framework agreement finalised in Washington is an insult, shameful, and a loss of sovereignty,’ Qassem said in a video broadcast by Lebanese TV channel Al-Manar. According to him, the provision linking the withdrawal of Israeli forces with the disarmament of Hezbollah is a highly dangerous proposal that violates all ‘red lines’. In early June, Reuters, citing a US official, reported that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire that came into effect on 19 June. However, mutual attacks between the two sides continued on 20 June. The chief of staff of the Israeli defence forces, Eyal Zamir, described the ceasefire as fragile and called on troops to prepare for further escalation.