Key facts
- Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire effective Friday afternoon.
- The ceasefire followed 24 hours of intense violence, including Hezbollah rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes.
- At least 47 people were killed in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers died.
- US President Donald Trump urged Israel to accept the ceasefire.
- The renewed clashes challenged a new US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending regional conflict.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew a fragile ceasefire on Friday following a significant escalation of violence that challenged a new US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at de-escalating regional conflict. The MoU, which opened a 60-day window for negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and the movement of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, called for an end to hostilities on all fronts.
Hezbollah initiated the latest round of fighting by targeting Israeli forces with rockets and drones, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley. The clashes resulted in at least 47 deaths in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers killed. Despite the agreement to a ceasefire, reports indicated ongoing Israeli strikes after the scheduled start time.
US President Donald Trump defended the deal and stated he urged Israel to accept the ceasefire, aiming to extricate the US from the war. However, the renewed violence has added uncertainty to efforts to find a definitive end to the regional conflict, which has already caused thousands of deaths and sent energy prices soaring.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation for the attacks, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed a more aggressive stance. The situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating previous ceasefires.