Israel, Lebanon reach conditional ceasefire deal as US brokers new security framework

Israel and Lebanon have agreed in principle to implement a conditional ceasefire aimed at ending months of escalating cross-border hostilities, following a new round of United States-mediated negotiations in Washington.

The breakthrough agreement, announced in a joint statement after talks concluded on Wednesday, is contingent upon a complete cessation of hostilities by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, which has been engaged in repeated attacks against Israeli forces and territory.

As part of the proposed arrangement, both countries also committed to establishing pilot security zones in southern Lebanon where the Lebanese Armed Forces will exercise exclusive authority.

The agreement specifically excludes the presence of all non-state armed groups within the designated areas, marking a significant step toward strengthening state control in a region that has long been a stronghold of Hezbollah.

The latest diplomatic effort comes amid continuing violence along the Israel-Lebanon border, despite growing international pressure for de-escalation.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon killed at least ten people during the latest exchanges. The casualties reportedly included four Syrian nationals, two Palestinians, and three paramedics. Lebanese authorities said the strikes were carried out in areas close to ongoing clashes between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces.

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Hezbollah, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting Israeli military positions. The group said it launched rockets and armed drones against Israeli troops operating near strategic locations in southern Lebanon, including areas around Chqif Castle and the border town of Al-Qantara.

In a statement, Hezbollah described the attacks as a response to what it called repeated Israeli violations and military incursions into Lebanese territory.

Tensions remained high even after the ceasefire announcement. Hours following the release of the joint statement, air raid sirens sounded across parts of northern Israel after military authorities detected what they described as a suspicious aerial threat.

The Israeli military later announced that it had successfully intercepted a hostile aircraft and two projectiles launched from Lebanese territory. No casualties or significant damage were reported from the incident.

Security analysts say the latest agreement represents the most significant diplomatic progress since renewed hostilities erupted earlier this year. However, they caution that the ceasefire’s success will depend largely on Hezbollah’s willingness to halt attacks and on both sides maintaining restraint amid deep-rooted regional tensions.

The Washington talks marked the fourth round of direct diplomacy between the parties since March 2, when Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel in support of Iran, triggering a new phase of military confrontation along the border.

US officials involved in the negotiations expressed hope that the pilot security zones could serve as a foundation for a broader and more durable peace arrangement, reducing the risk of a wider regional conflict and strengthening the authority of the Lebanese state in its southern territories.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, observers warn that the situation remains fragile, with sporadic attacks and retaliatory strikes continuing to threaten the implementation of any lasting ceasefire agreement.