US Says Israel and Hezbollah Agree to Ceasefire

Israel and Hezbollah have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire. The agreement comes after both sides recently launched renewed attacks against each other.

According to AFP, the ceasefire began at 4 p.m. local time on Friday. US officials stated that the deal was brokered by mediators from the United States and Qatar following discussions with Israel and Iran.

Clashes in Lebanon had threatened an agreement between Washington and Tehran to end the war, following the postponement of planned talks in Switzerland that were to be attended by US Vice President JD Vance.

Citing CNN, another diplomatic source familiar with the situation said the agreement was mediated by Qatar, the US, and Iran. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson declined to confirm the ceasefire during a briefing on Friday afternoon.

“We continue to act according to the existing political directives. Unless those directives change, we will continue to act accordingly,” the spokesperson said.

President Donald Trump and his administration have recently shown increasing frustration with Israel, a key ally and partner in the war against Iran.

On Thursday, Trump called for a “total ceasefire on all fronts,” including from Israel.

He has also become more critical of the high number of casualties resulting from Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

“When two drones are shot down into the desert without causing harm, you don’t need to demolish buildings in Beirut,” Trump remarked during the G7 summit in France on Wednesday. “They could be more careful, and frankly, they could do a better job.”

Meanwhile, Vance issued an unusually sharp rebuke to hardline ministers in the Israeli government for criticising the Iran deal, urging them to face reality.

“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who sympathises with the nation of Israel right now,” Vance said during a White House briefing. “If I were in the Israeli cabinet, I wouldn’t attack the only powerful ally I still have in the entire world.”