Israel and Lebanon agree to renew ceasefire amid Trump push for broader Iran deal
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew a ceasefire aimed at ending months of cross-border hostilities, according to an announcement by the United States. The move comes as US President Donald Trump seeks to advance broader diplomatic efforts to ease tensions involving Iran and its regional allies.
The ceasefire is reportedly linked to a complete halt in attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and the withdrawal of its fighters from areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Both sides have also agreed to establish pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces will have exclusive control, limiting the presence of non-state armed groups.
Despite the agreement, reports indicated that Israeli drone strikes continued in parts of southern Lebanon shortly after the announcement. Hezbollah has previously rejected any partial ceasefire arrangement and was not directly involved in the negotiations held in Washington.
The renewed truce is seen as a key step in ongoing efforts to stabilize the region, with the US hoping to remove obstacles to a wider understanding with Iran. However, uncertainties remain over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from border areas and the long-term implementation of the ceasefire terms.
