Israel-Hezbollah agree to ceasefire, U.S. official says

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official confirmed to The Center Square.

Overnight, 18 people were killed in Lebanon amid strikes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon Health Ministry said. Four Israeli soldiers were also killed, according to the Israeli military.

A U.S. official confirmed on background that Israel and Hezbollah agreed to the ceasefire. The overnight attacks, first by Hezbollah and countered by Israel, appeared to stall peace talks between the United States and Iran.

Vice President JD Vance delayed a planned trip to Switzerland that was set to include discussions of Iran’s nuclear program. The first article in a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. calls for an end to the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.

The memorandum sets out a 60-day ceasefire for negotiations to continue on the future of Iran’s nuclear program, and set up a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously vowed to retaliate after the four Israeli soliders were killed.

“Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as required to protect the settlements in the north,” Netanyahu said before the ceasefire was announced. The terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire are unclear. The ceasefire’s effect in ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran is also unclear.