Lebanon Conflict Sees Israel and Hezbollah Agree to Ceasefire After 20 Killed
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday after deadly exchanges in southern Lebanon that killed at least 20 people there and four Israeli soldiers, placing fresh strain on a US-Iran deal signed days earlier to end the Middle East war in the Lebanon conflict. [2] A senior United States official told Reuters that the ceasefire was due to begin at 4pm local time on Friday after negotiations involving the United States, Qatar and Iran. [5] Israel and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire on June 19 after deadly exchanges between the two sides in Lebanon put the deal to end the Middle East war under strain. [2]
Ceasefire Agreement After Deadly Clashes
Israel and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official said, after deadly exchanges between the two sides in Lebanon put a deal to end the Middle East war under strain less than two days after it was signed. [3] Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire following a day of heavy fighting in southern Lebanon, where Israeli strikes killed dozens of people. [5] A senior United States official told Reuters that the ceasefire was due to begin at 4pm local time on Friday after negotiations involving the United States, Qatar and Iran. [5] “Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire,” the official told Reuters, adding that the two sides had halted hostilities following exchanges of fire earlier in the day. [5] Israel and Hezbollah say they agree to truce despite renewed attacks. [2] The agreement came after at least 20 people were killed in Lebanon in fresh strikes, as well four Israeli soldiers. [2] Deadly exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon put a newly signed deal to end the Middle East war under further strain yesterday, after the postponement of planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland. [1]
Casualties and Military Actions in Southern Lebanon
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire in Lebanon after deadly exchanges. — Source: france24 The Israeli military yesterday said that it had struck more than 80 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and killed dozens of members of the Iran-backed group in response to what it described as ceasefire violations. [1] Lebanon said 18 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the south, while Israel’s military reported four troops were killed, drawing furious reactions at home. [1] At least 20 people were killed in Lebanon in fresh strikes, as well four Israeli soldiers. [2] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army would stay in Lebanon “as long as necessary” and would make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” for its attacks. [1] Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said after the soldiers’ deaths that “all of Lebanon must burn.” [1] In response, the far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said "all of Lebanon must burn". [2] Israeli strikes killed at least 18-20 people in southern Lebanon and targeted more than 80 Hezbollah sites, with Israel reporting dozens of Hezbollah members killed in response to alleged ceasefire violations. [1]
Impact on US-Iran Deal Signed This Week
The deal signed this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian aims to end a war that began on Feb. 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. [1] The agreement was also meant to halt the fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has always insisted should be covered under any accord, turning Israel’s ongoing campaign there into a source of frustration for Washington. [1] Israel and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official said, after deadly exchanges between the two sides in Lebanon put a deal to end the Middle East war under strain less than two days after it was signed. [3] The US-Iran deal signed this week by Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian was intended to halt fighting in Lebanon, which Iran insisted must be included, but Israeli actions have frustrated Washington and led to postponement of follow-up talks in Switzerland. [1] Deadly exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon put a newly signed deal to end the Middle East war under further strain yesterday. [1]
Postponement of US-Iran Talks in Switzerland
The delay came as Tehran’s top negotiator warned it would not bend on its red lines and that its finger was still “on the trigger,” even as shipping appeared to pick up in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] Preparations had been made to host Iranian and US delegations led by Tehran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Swiss resort of Burgenstock, overlooking Lake Lucerne. [1] The talks were due to begin on a two-month period of negotiations to discuss outstanding issues not covered by the initial deal, notably Iran’s nuclear program. [1] The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the discussions had been postponed, but said it “remains ready to facilitate these talks.” [1] Quoting diplomats, the Financial Times said Israel’s strikes on Lebanon had led to the postponement, but there was no immediate confirmation. [1] A diplomatic source from the United Arab Emirates said there were “two spoilers” to the deal — namely that Israel “didn’t like it” and that there was also hardline opposition within Iran. [1] Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran would not bend on its red lines and kept its ‘finger on the trigger’ for a crushing response if needed, even as US-Iran talks were postponed. [1]
International Reactions and Diplomatic Efforts
French President Emmanuel Macron, who presided over Trump’s signing of the deal in Versailles, urged Israel to “respect” the accord, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot said. [1] Vance, meanwhile, has expressed a degree of exasperation with the Israeli government rare for a top US official, telling the New York Times “you can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.” [1] US Vice President JD Vance expressed rare exasperation with Israel, stating 'you can't just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem,' and French President Macron urged Israel to respect the accord. [1] A senior United States official told Reuters that the ceasefire was due to begin at 4pm local time on Friday after negotiations involving the United States, Qatar and Iran. [5]
Ongoing Tensions and Red Lines
Ghalibaf said that talks with the US would remain bound by Tehran’s “red lines.” [1] “If the enemy seeks to be excessive, we have proven that our fingers are on the trigger and we have no hesitation in giving a crushing response to the enemy,” he said in remarks published by the official IRNA news agency. [1] The deal signed this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian aims to end a war that began on Feb. 28 with US-Israeli strikes that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. [1] The agreement was also meant to halt the fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has always insisted should be covered under any accord, turning Israel’s ongoing campaign there into a source of frustration for Washington. [1]
What to watch next: The Swiss foreign ministry confirmed the discussions had been postponed, but said it “remains ready to facilitate these talks,” while shipping appeared to pick up in the Strait of Hormuz amid warnings that Tehran’s finger was still “on the trigger.” [1]
