Lebanon and Israel Agree to Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Border Clashes

Following high-level talks held in Washington led by the United States, Israel and Lebanon agreed on Wednesday to enforce a ceasefire. However, Iran-backed Hezbollah made clear that no agreement would be implemented without a “full end” to the gunfire, adding uncertainty to the accord.

Although formal diplomatic relations between the two sides do not exist, a joint statement confirmed the agreement reached after establishing a “pilot zone.” In this zone, the Lebanese Armed Forces will take special control by removing non-state armed groups.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, clashes and attacks continued in the border area before and after the agreement. Hezbollah claimed it targeted Israeli forces, while Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least 10 in southern Lebanon. Hours after the announcement, ‘suspicious aerial targets’ appeared over northern Israel, prompting an airstrike warning, though no casualties have been confirmed.

The joint statement included conditions for enforcing the ceasefire: Hezbollah must completely cease firing and remove its fighters from southern Lebanon. The Washington talks marked the fourth round of direct dialogue between Lebanese and Israeli representatives, ongoing since the conflict beginning on March 2, when Hezbollah, supported by Iran, resumed attacks on Israel.

Both sides also agreed to resume talks in the week of June 22, aiming to reach a broader peace agreement.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed the view that the Lebanon conflict and tensions related to Iran should be addressed separately. Tehran, however, claims these events are interconnected; Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any attack on Beirut could trigger a full-scale renewed war.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military reported intercepting a “hostile aircraft” and two projectiles entering Israeli territory from Lebanon. In response, Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by targeting military sites in northern Israel with rocket attacks.

On Thursday morning, Hezbollah launched rockets targeting Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the southern Lebanese town of al-Qantara and conducted two drone attacks near an Israeli command post close to the Chakif Castle.

A previously proposed ceasefire aiming to halt hostilities was set to take effect on April 17, but both sides continued attacks, accusing each other of violations. Hezbollah senior official Mahmoud Qomati declared the group would not accept a “partial ceasefire.”

Humanitarian casualties have increased concurrently. According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli strike targeted a car on the main highway outside the capital. Following warnings from the Israeli military to evacuate many villages, over 20 locations in the south have been reported hit.

The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that Israeli strikes in the al-Hawas area near Tyre killed four Syrians and two Palestinians. However, an Israeli military spokesperson denied knowledge of any attack in that area.

The Health Ministry also reported that ambulances were targeted in southern Lebanon. Two paramedics from the Amal Movement’s Risala Scouts Association, affiliated with Hezbollah, were killed. The Ministry released images showing damaged ambulances with medical supplies scattered on the road.

Another paramedic died in an attack on an ambulance team associated with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Committee in the city of Jibdin, according to NNA. Since the start of the conflict, at least 130 emergency and healthcare personnel have been killed.

The Lebanese army also reported one soldier killed and two others, an officer and a soldier, wounded in Israeli strikes. The army strongly condemned Israel for deliberately targeting military personnel, vehicles, and facilities.