Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire

Key facts

• Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, effective Friday afternoon.
• The truce was reportedly brokered by U.S. and Qatari negotiators with assistance from Iran.
• Despite the agreement, reports indicated ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon after the scheduled start time.
• The escalation has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
• Hezbollah denied violating the ceasefire and accused Israel of breaches.

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.