Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, a senior US official said, following a deadly escalation that threatened to derail wider diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace deal across the Middle East.
The ceasefire came into effect shortly before 4 pm local time in Lebanon (1300 GMT), according to the official, who said negotiators from the United States and Qatar helped broker the agreement with assistance from Iran.
"We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire," the senior US official said on background, confirming that both sides had agreed to halt hostilities after a day of intense fighting.
The breakthrough follows a flare-up in southern Lebanon in which 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes and four Israeli soldiers died in attacks by Hezbollah militants. The violence raised fears that tension on Israel's northern border could undermine broader diplomatic efforts tied to the conflict involving Iran.
According to the US official, American and Qatari mediators worked intensively to secure the agreement, while Iran also played a role in facilitating the ceasefire. The truce is seen as a critical step toward preserving negotiations aimed at transforming the current pause in hostilities between Washington and Tehran into a more comprehensive regional settlement.
The fighting in Lebanon had already complicated diplomatic efforts. Planned talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland on Friday were cancelled as violence escalated, creating uncertainty over negotiations considered vital for ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
A senior Hezbollah lawmaker said Iran had informed the group that discussions with the United States could not move forward without a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon. The comment underscored the growing link between local conflicts and wider regional diplomacy.
Iran's foreign ministry did not directly address the cancelled talks but accused the United States of bearing responsibility for Israeli military actions in Lebanon. Tehran said it would take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests.
Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israeli troops retain "full operational freedom" to act against any perceived threat despite the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Defrin said Israeli forces continue to operate in the Beaufort Castle area and along the Ali Taher ridge, where they are working to destroy what he described as major Hezbollah tunnel networks that serve as the group's central command infrastructure.
He accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and attempting to protect military capabilities it had built over the years.
"Hezbollah is fighting a defensive battle to prevent our forces from completing the destruction of these infrastructures," Defrin said.
The spokesperson stressed that Israeli troops have unrestricted authority to eliminate threats wherever they are identified, adding that there are no limitations on military action aimed at ensuring security.
