Israel and Lebanon Agree to Renew Ceasefire, Conditioned on Hezbollah Pullback

Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew a ceasefire after weeks of deadly fighting in southern Lebanon, The New York Times reported. The arrangement is contingent on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that was not party to the talks, halting attacks on Israel and withdrawing its fighters from the area south of the Litani River. Hours after Washington announced the deal, Hezbollah rejected it. The group's leader, Naim Qassem, called the declaration "a roadmap for the annihilation of a section of the Lebanese people" and said any ceasefire must include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, pledging to continue attacks as long as Israeli troops remain. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fresh strikes after the rejection, and air-raid warnings sounded in northern Israel.

The truce is connected to the wider conflict between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump said he wants to keep talks on Lebanon separate from negotiations with Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran warned that any attack on Beirut would trigger a "full-scale resumption" of the war, according to The Hindu.

The agreement also faces opposition inside Israel's government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called the ceasefire a "serious mistake" and said advisers were pushing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward wrong decisions. Iranian state media presented the situation differently, describing growing political and economic costs as evidence that pressure to end the conflict is increasing.

Hezbollah's refusal puts the agreement in doubt. Western and Israeli reporting had emphasized that the truce depended on the group, which did not take part in the talks, and it has now declined the terms. Iranian coverage emphasizes Israeli and American fatigue. With strikes continuing, the announced ceasefire describes an intention that the main armed party has refused to honor rather than a pause now in effect.