Description: Iran- backed Hezbollah has rejected the latest ceasefire proposal made by the US and negotiated between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah’s chief, Naim Qassem, stated that Hezbollah was never involved in the negotiations, Lebanon does not represent the organization’s stance on Israel and the conflict with Iran and until a complete Israeli withdrawal from the southern parts of Lebanon is not completed, Hezbollah would continue its attacks on Israeli military targets. The announcement arrives on the back of a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US and amid Israeli ground offensive which shows no signs of abating. Lebanese Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, stated that Hezbollah would bear the brunt of the responsibility in case Israel continues its ground offensive in Lebanon and especially in case the ceasefire between Iran and the US terminally dissolves. The ceasefire agreed in Washington did not exist in practical terms as Hezbollah and Israel continued exchanging attacks in the Bekaa Valley and the Nabatieh area, effectively diminishing the prospects of the ceasefire.
Impact: Hezbollah’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal is likely bidimensional and highlights Iran’s control over the organization and Hezbollah’s resolute attitude towards Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon. The rejection is highly likely an Iranian negotiating strategy to further put pressure on the US – Israeli relationship and their strategic stance on the entire war platform, while using Israel’s land seizures as a pretext. Not including Hezbollah into the negotiations even through mediators and outside representatives could prove to be fatal for the US – Iran ceasefire since as much as Trump has insisted on separate negotiations, Iran has remained determined to keep its proxy organization and control over Lebanon as an instrumental part of any agreed peace declarations. The current situation likely strains any existing overt and covert diplomatic efforts to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table and would likely result in continued aerial attacks on all fronts, severely undermining the existing ceasefire.