A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reported following talks in Washington. An analysis suggests Israel's strategy involves oscillating between diplomatic negotiations and maintaining military control to establish a buffer zone in the south.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached following a first round of talks in Washington. Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, analyses Israel’s strategy in Lebanon, which he describes as oscillating between negotiations and continued presence in the south. He notes that Israel repeatedly states its intention to push out Hezbollah, as a justification for expanding control and establishing a buffer zone up to the Litani River. ...