Ceasefire committee to convene for first time since March 11

The five-party U.S.-led ceasefire committee will convene Wednesday in Ras al-Naqoura for the first time since the suspension of its meetings on March 11, al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

It will be the first meeting under the chairmanship of U.S. Major General Michael Leeney, who has succeeded U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers as the head of the committee, the daily noted.

“The committee’s resumption of its meetings is supposed to reflect a new U.S. performance that is less aggressive and less biased in Israel’s favor, contrary to the term of Jeffers and his superior, former special envoy Morgan Ortagus,” al-Akhbar said.

Leeney for his part is expected to “demonstrate what has been achieved since the ceasefire was reached eight months ago” and to “ask the Israeli enemy’s representative in the meeting to withdraw from the five points, in line with the Israeli pledge and in return for the Lebanese government’s commitment to the implementation of the (ceasefire) agreement and Resolution 1701,” the newspaper added.