Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a full ceasefire, according to a joint statement released by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon following U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department in Washington DC. The agreement requires Hezbollah to halt attacks completely and evacuate all its operatives from areas south of the Litani River.
The joint statement emphasized that both countries reject "any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon's future hostage." The statement also called for the Lebanese army to take full control of security zones that would be established within Lebanon, though specifics on how these zones would be created remain unclear.
The ceasefire represents the latest attempt to stabilize a volatile situation. Israel and Lebanon previously agreed to a truce last month, but fighting has continued since that announcement. Israeli strikes have killed more than 800 people in Lebanon following the earlier agreement, while Hezbollah has continued targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and launching rockets toward northern Israel.
Recent military escalation has been severe. Israel has attacked three hospitals in southern Lebanon within one week, killing nine people and wounding more than 150 according to Lebanon's health ministry. Israeli troops have also advanced deeper into southern Lebanon than they have in approximately 25 years, raising their flag over the ancient Beaufort Castle over the weekend. In response, Hezbollah launched deeper rocket attacks into northern Israel.
A significant challenge to implementation remains uncertain. Hezbollah, which operates as a semi-autonomous armed force within Lebanon, is not directly participating in the negotiations and has firmly rejected the talks. The organization has stated it will not comply with any agreements resulting from the Israel-Lebanon discussions. While the Lebanese government has accepted the ceasefire terms, Hezbollah's willingness to accept the withdrawal requirement south of the Litani River is unclear.
The two sides agreed to reconvene for additional talks beginning June 22 to work toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement. The timing reflects the fragile nature of the current arrangement.
The agreement comes as the U.S. pursues broader diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. President Trump has indicated he wants to keep Lebanon separate from Iran peace negotiations, describing them as "a very different kind of thing." Iranian officials have warned that any attack on Beirut would trigger a wider resumption of conflict in the Middle East.
The conditional nature of the ceasefire leaves open the possibility that fighting could resume if Hezbollah rejects the terms or if either side fails to implement them as outlined. Implementation success will likely determine whether this agreement achieves lasting stability or becomes another temporary pause in the conflict.