What is Israel’s war in Lebanon and why could it shatter the Iran ceasefire? | CNN

Israel’s massive attacks in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon this week are threatening to derail a fragile ceasefire with the US and Iran. Tehran argues that the strikes violate the truce, which it says included Lebanon — a position echoed by mediator Pakistan. Israel and the United States say Lebanon was not part of the deal. As US and Iranian delegations prepare to begin negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, this weekend, what happens next in Lebanon will be a potential wildcard. At least 303 people were killed in Wednesday’s strikes alone, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. “The Lebanese front may ultimately undermine efforts to sustain the ceasefire,” said Danny Citrinowicz, senior researcher in the Iran and the Shiite Axis Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv. From Tehran’s perspective, Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon “may justify a renewed response against Israel,” he added. Officials involved in negotiations gave conflicting statements about whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. Unlike most ceasefire agreements, there are no publicly available documents underpinning this one. Much of what is known ab