Israel, Hezbollah agree to renewed ceasefire after strikes
by Vaughn Cockayne · The Washington TimesIsrael and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group, agreed to a ceasefire on Friday just hours after the Israeli military launched widespread airstrikes on southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Defense Force confirmed that the two sides have reached a ceasefire, but added that they are prepared “to continue fighting if called upon to do so.”
Chief spokesman for the IDF Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said it would continue operating in southern Lebanon and would maintain a “forward defense zone.” Israel has been occupying several square miles of southern Lebanon, which it has called a security zone.
The ceasefire reportedly went into effect at 4 P.M. local time. Reuters reported that the U.S. and Qatar brokered the agreement following discussions between Iran and Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that Hezbollah had continued to attack Israelis with missiles, drones and rockets in violation of the ceasefire.
“Instead of disarming and withdrawing from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah continues to attack Israel, while exploiting Lebanese territory as a launching pad for terrorism,” the ministry wrote on X.
Hezbollah said it was responding to Israel’s own ceasefire violations and that it had fired at tanks attempting to capture the strategic Ali al-Taher hilltop near the city of Nabatiyeh.
The agreement comes just hours after Israel bombed Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon. The strikes, centered on the city of Nabatieh, killed at least 18 people and injured 33, according to Lebanese health officials.
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Israel Katz, Israel’s defense minister, said Israel struck more than 80 targets in Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah’s attacks the day prior that killed four Israeli soldiers.
The bombing put more pressure on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Israeli officials have, in recent days, suggested that they would not adhere to the deal’s terms and have insisted that their country’s troops will not withdraw from its occupation zone in southern Lebanon.
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Vaughn Cockayne
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