Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered by U.S. and Qatari negotiators with Iranian assistance. The truce aims to de-escalate intense hostilities that have resulted in significant casualties on both sides, despite reports of continued strikes.
The ceasefire aims to de-escalate a conflict that has threatened regional stability and caused significant loss of life, with implications for broader U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, set to take effect Friday afternoon, according to a U.S. official. This agreement follows a significant escalation in hostilities that has led to numerous casualties on both sides.
A senior U.S. official stated that negotiators from the U.S. and Qatar, with assistance from Iran, worked out the ceasefire. "Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire," the official said, adding, "We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire."
Despite the agreed-upon start time, reports from a Reuters journalist in northern Israel indicated that Israeli strikes were still visible across the border in Lebanon, with smoke rising from a village near the frontier. The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least 47 people had been killed in Lebanon since midnight, while Israel reported four of its soldiers killed in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to "extract a very heavy price" from Hezbollah for the killing of the four soldiers. Israeli defense forces stated on X that they had hit more than 80 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and killed dozens of members of the group.
Hezbollah denied violating the ceasefire and accused Israel of repeatedly breaching truce terms. The group alleged Israeli forces attacked civilians, destroyed homes and infrastructure, and continued ground incursions.