Israel and Lebanon have agreed in principle to implement a ceasefire, contingent on a complete cessation of hostilities by Iran-backed Hezbollah. This agreement emerged from US-led talks in Washington, though cross-border attacks persisted on the day of the announcement.
The two nations, which lack formal diplomatic ties, also committed to establishing "pilot zones" where the Lebanese armed forces would assume exclusive control, barring any non-state actors. This development occurred despite Hezbollah claiming to have targeted Israeli troops and Israeli strikes resulting in at least nine fatalities in southern Lebanon earlier in the day.
The conditional ceasefire requires Hezbollah to cease all fire and withdraw its operatives from southern Lebanon. These discussions in Washington represent the fourth round of direct engagement between Lebanese and Israeli diplomats since the conflict escalated on March 2, when Hezbollah renewed attacks against Israel in solidarity with Iran. Both delegations are scheduled to reconvene for further talks the week of June 22, with the stated aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.
Hostilities continued unabated earlier in the day. US President Donald Trump indicated a desire to separate discussions concerning the Lebanon conflict from those related to the war with Iran. However, Tehran maintains a linkage between these conflicts, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that any aggression against Beirut would precipitate a full-scale resumption of war.
The Israeli military reported intercepting a hostile aircraft and two projectiles that entered Israeli territory from Lebanon. Conversely, Hezbollah asserted that its fighters launched a rocket barrage targeting Israeli soldiers in northern Israel, citing this as a response to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations. A previous truce intended to halt hostilities in Lebanon, set for April 17, has remained largely unobserved, with both sides citing the other's alleged transgressions as justification for continued attacks. A senior Hezbollah official had previously stated the group would not accept a partial ceasefire.
Among the day's Israeli strikes, one targeted a vehicle on the main highway out of the capital, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. The agency also reported strikes on over 20 locations in the south, some occurring after Israel's military advised residents of several villages to evacuate. The Lebanese health ministry reported that an Israeli attack in Al-Hawsh, near Tyre, resulted in the deaths of four Syrians and two Palestinians. However, an Israeli military spokesperson stated they were unaware of such an attack in the area.
The Lebanese health ministry further indicated that an Israeli strike elsewhere in the south hit an ambulance, killing two paramedics from the Risala Scouts Association, an affiliate of Hezbollah's ally, the Amal movement. Images circulated by the ministry depicted a severely damaged ambulance with medical supplies scattered on the road. At least 130 emergency and health workers have been killed since the fighting commenced. The Lebanese army reported the death of a soldier in an Israeli strike and injuries to an officer and another soldier in a separate attack on a military vehicle. The army condemned what it termed Israel's deliberate targeting of its personnel, vehicles, and positions.
On Tuesday, Israel's military alleged that Hezbollah members were operating within Tyre's Christian quarter and indicated it would issue evacuation warnings should the group remain. An AFP correspondent observed a relatively calm situation in Tyre on Wednesday morning, with some residents who had been sheltering in cars or tents on the outskirts of the Christian quarter relocating to other parts of the city. A petition advocating for Tyre to be declared an "open city," free of armed presence and calling for the deployment of the Lebanese military, has garnered over 180 signatures, including those of local lawyers and intellectuals. Hezbollah maintains a significant presence in Tyre, and some signatories have faced online harassment for their stance. A similar petition has been signed by over 200 individuals concerning Nabatieh, another major city in southern Lebanon that has experienced Israeli attacks. Israel has recently intensified its offensive, conducting its deepest ground operations into Lebanon in two decades.
