Blinken: Ceasefire Holding in Lebanon

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Wednesday that the ceasefire in Lebanon is still holding, despite ongoing incidents between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. Speaking to reporters at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Blinken stated that any concerns regarding potential violations are being addressed through the established mechanism.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have been accused of violating the ceasefire, which was implemented last Wednesday to end the conflict that caused widespread devastation and displacement in Lebanon and Israel. Blinken emphasized that both parties, through the Lebanese government, want the ceasefire to succeed and continue, but stressed the importance of ensuring its enforcement.

A monitoring committee, consisting of representatives from France, the U.N., Israel, Lebanon, and chaired by the United States, is responsible for maintaining communication among all parties and addressing any violations to prevent further escalation. Blinken assured that the mechanism put in place to monitor the ceasefire is functioning and will continue to do so.

He explained that whenever there are concerns about a breach, the parties involved are engaged to address the issue directly. Israel’s military actions in southern Lebanon intensified in late September following Hezbollah’s support for Hamas after their October 7 attack on southern Israel.