US-Mediated Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Fails Nine Months Post-Deadline

The U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, brokered during President Biden's administration, has largely failed to achieve its intended goals, with Hezbollah remaining active in southern Lebanon and ongoing Israeli military actions continuing. This ceasefire has been criticized for allowing Hezbollah to regroup and avoid accountability, with the Lebanese government failing to disarm the militia. In contrast, President Trump is widely credited by voters for securing a fragile ceasefire and historic peace deal in the Middle East, with a poll showing he is seen as having done more for peace in the region than his predecessors. Analysis suggests that the Biden and Obama administrations failed in the Middle East due to their policies of appeasing Iran and pressuring Israel without a viable security framework, unlike Trump's more assertive approach. Meanwhile, concerns about foreign influence in U.S. politics highlight bipartisan issues of corrupt foreign interests buying access, with both Trump and Biden associates implicated. These complex dynamics reveal ongoing challenges in achieving durable peace and transparency in U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East.