Lebanon has said Hezbollah has accepted a U.S.-backed proposal intended to reduce the fighting with Israel, although continued exchanges of fire have underlined how fragile the arrangement remains.
The Lebanese embassy in Washington said it had “received confirmation of Hezbollah’s acceptance of the U.S. proposal for a mutual cessation of attacks.” Under the plan, Hezbollah would stop targeting Israel, while Israeli forces would refrain from carrying out further strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs. The arrangement would later be expanded to cover the rest of Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the proposal but warned that Israel would continue to respond if Hezbollah launched further attacks against Israeli communities. He said strikes on Beirut would resume “if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and civilians.”
Netanyahu also made clear that the agreement would not bring an immediate end to Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon, where fighting has intensified in recent days.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Netanyahu and communicated with Hezbollah representatives as Washington sought to prevent the escalation from spreading.
“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Despite the announcement, clashes continued. Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli tanks and troops near two villages in northern Israel using drones and artillery fire. The Israeli military said it intercepted two projectiles launched from Lebanon and reported no injuries.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported Israeli strikes in several southern areas, including a powerful explosion in the town of Debbine.
The latest escalation has complicated efforts to maintain a separate ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Tehran, which has long supported Hezbollah financially and militarily, has warned that Israeli action in Lebanon could affect the wider regional truce.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the ceasefire applied “on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” Trump has said negotiations with Tehran are continuing, but no permanent agreement has yet been announced.