Israel and Hezbollah agree on ceasefire after deadliest day since US-Iran deal

Overnight offensive

During the night of Thursday 18 to Friday 19 June, Israeli warplanes struck at least ten localities in southern Lebanon, from the Nabatiyé area to the Baalbek region in the east. The Lebanese health ministry reported 47 dead and 97 wounded, including two children. In Harouf alone, eight people were killed. The Israeli military said it hit Hezbollah infrastructure and claimed to have killed “dozens” of fighters in a series of more than 150 strikes.

Four Israeli soldiers were killed around midnight when their tank was hit near Kfar Tebnit. The military identified one of the dead as Lieutenant-Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon. Israeli media, citing military correspondents, reported the vehicle was struck by a missile or a drone.

A fragile truce takes hold, but faces immediate test

Early Friday afternoon, a US official and a Gulf diplomat announced that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire. The truce was negotiated by American and Qatari mediators after talks with Israel and Iran. It was supposed to enter into force that afternoon.

“Israel remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire. If Hezbollah honours the agreement and ceases hostilities, that will be met with calm.”

Yet Lebanon’s official national news agency (ANI) reported a new Israeli strike in the south after the announcement, and an AFP correspondent described continuous artillery fire near Nabatiyé. Ambassador Leiter denied those reports, stating that at 11:30 a.m. Israel “suspended all offensive operations” and that claims otherwise were “lies” by Hezbollah and Iran.

International diplomacy and next steps

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun used a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to demand a “global ceasefire” as a prerequisite for direct talks. Those negotiations are set to resume in Washington on Monday 22 June.

“We will make Hezbollah pay a very heavy price. The army will stay in southern Lebanon as long as necessary.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of seeking “permanent war”. The renewed fighting tests the protocol agreement signed by Washington and Tehran on 15 June, which called for an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Humanitarian toll

Since the conflict began on 2 March, when Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of Iran, 3 980 people have been killed and 12 001 wounded in Lebanon, according to the health ministry’s emergency operations centre. A truce declared on 17 April was never respected. The latest escalation drove hundreds of civilians to flee, carpets of cars loaded with mattresses and belongings clogging roads northward.

“All Lebanon must burn.”

The extreme-right minister’s remark contrasted with the diplomatic efforts underway. President Aoun called the Israeli bombardment “a dangerous and condemnable escalation” that undermines the US‑Iran entente.