In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Israel’s defence minister has announced that the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon and will not allow the ‘return of the population’ - despite a freshly agreed ceasefire with Lebanon. The two countries had just renewed their commitment to the truce, as Donald Trump reportedly tries to clear the path for an Iran deal. Meanwhile, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, declared through Iranian media that Hezbollah demands Israel retreat to its pre-war positions, adding: “Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is the duty of all of us, and removing Israel from the region is an attainable goal for Muslims.” Because nothing says “attainable goal” like decades of regional conflict.
In other, more tragic news, Staff Sergeant Milovan Jovanović, a Serbian soldier serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, died this morning from injuries caused by a projectile that struck the UN base where he and other peacekeepers were stationed. He received immediate medical care at the base hospital, was airlifted to the University Medical Centre in Beirut, and passed away at approximately 4:00 a.m. local time. The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon continues to be a job where “peace” is more of a suggestion than a guarantee.