Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire from 4pm Friday
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire that begins 4pm Friday Beirut time, a U.S. official said Friday, after deadly new exchanges in Lebanon put the deal to end the Middle East war under strain.
The truce was brokered by U.S. and Qatari mediators following talks with Israel and Iran, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Israeli airstrikes targeted Nabatieh, Kfartebnit and Kfarsir and a mountain in Iqlim al-Tuffah shortly after the ceasefire went into effect.
"The ceasefire in Lebanon has started, we will remain in the security zone, and we will respond if attacked," an Israeli official said.
A Gulf diplomat also confirmed an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire was brokered on Friday by Qatar, the U.S. and Iran.
"Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to halt hostilities in a deal mediated by Qatar, the U.S., and Iran," the diplomat told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. The ceasefire is expected to go into effect on Friday afternoon local time, the diplomat said.
A Hezbollah official said mediators attempted to implement a new ceasefire and that an agreement would be announced soon, but he stopped short of confirming it was in place. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately comment. Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the military has not received different instructions from the government. He said Israeli forces were operating in a “forward defense zone” and will continue doing so.
Talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off Friday after intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, officials said, raising questions about an initial agreement to end the war in Iran.
Iranian officials didn’t travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that the fighting in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place, according to three regional officials and a fourth person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations behind the scenes. U.S. Vice President JD Vance also postponed his trip.
Source: Agence France Presse, Associated Press, Naharnet
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