Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday, a senior US official said, following a sharp escalation in hostilities that had threatened diplomatic efforts to transform a temporary agreement over the Iran conflict into a broader and lasting Middle East peace arrangement.
Speaking shortly before 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), the US official said the ceasefire would take effect immediately.
“We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that US and Qatari negotiators helped broker the agreement with support from Iran.
The ceasefire announcement came after a series of Israeli strikes across Lebanon killed at least 31 people on Friday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The renewed violence prompted the cancellation of planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland, casting fresh uncertainty over negotiations considered crucial to securing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
A senior Hezbollah lawmaker said Iran had informed the group that discussions with Washington could not proceed without a comprehensive ceasefire.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not directly address the talks but said the United States bore direct responsibility for Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Tehran, the spokesperson added, would take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests.