Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that is set to take effect at 4 pm local time on Friday (1300 GMT), according to a senior US official cited by Reuters. The agreement follows a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities overnight and is aimed at halting military operations between the two sides after one of the deadliest exchanges in recent weeks.
The US official said negotiators from the United States and Qatar worked to broker the arrangement with assistance from Iran, resulting in both Israel and Hezbollah agreeing to suspend hostilities. "Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire," the official said, adding that the understanding was reached after the exchange of fire earlier in the day.
The latest fighting had placed additional strain on the interim agreement signed by the United States and Iran on Wednesday to end the wider conflict in the Middle East. Under that framework, the US, Iran and their respective allies committed to an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon.
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Earlier in the day, a Hezbollah lawmaker told Reuters that Iran had informed the group that discussions with Washington could not continue unless a comprehensive ceasefire was implemented. The statement highlighted the growing diplomatic pressure to prevent the renewed violence from undermining broader regional efforts to de-escalate tensions.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, overnight Israeli airstrikes killed at least 18 people in Lebanon, while Hezbollah attacks in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers, making it one of the deadliest incidents involving Israeli forces during the current conflict. The casualties further intensified international calls for restraint.
If successfully implemented, the ceasefire could mark a significant step toward restoring stability along the Israel-Lebanon border after days of renewed violence. While fighting had subsided earlier in the week, the latest clashes threatened to derail ongoing diplomatic initiatives, making Friday's agreement a crucial test of both sides' commitment to de-escalation.
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