Ceasefire monitoring committee meets in Naqoura

Representatives of the United States, France, UNIFIL and the Lebanese and Israeli armies met Wednesday in Naqoura.

The U.S.-led committee that also includes France, UNIFIL, Lebanon, and Israel, was formed to monitor the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel that took effect in late November. This was the committee's second meeting.

"UNIFIL hosted the meeting, with the United States serving as chair, assisted by France, and joined by the LAF and IDF," the U.S. and French embassies and UNIFIL said in a joint statement Wednesday, adding that "the Mechanism will continue to meet in this format regularly and coordinate closely to support implementation of the ceasefire agreement and UNSCR 1701."

The committee had met earlier this month in Naqoura to "coordinate their support for the cessation of hostilities that went into effect on November 27."

Israel has launched near-daily strikes, mostly in southern Lebanon, that have killed at least 29 people and wounded 27 others since the ceasefire took effect. Still, the shaky truce appeared to be holding.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati vowed that Israel's ceasefire violations would soon be stopped, as Israel targeted a car in the southern town of Majdalzoun Tuesday.

Israel says the truce deal with Lebanon gives it the right to use military force against perceived ceasefire violations.