The ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah was set to begin Friday afternoon as the U.S. sought to maintain a regional framework with Iran. Talks scheduled for Switzerland were unexpectedly postponed. The ceasefire was to start at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, or 4 p.m. local time, according to a senior U.S. and an Israeli official. Yet, whether the ceasefire is in effect remains unclear. The White House has not publicly confirmed its implementation.
A Hezbollah representative stated the group would comply with the ceasefire if Israel did, though they claimed Israel continued strikes in southern Lebanon beyond the agreed time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video after the ceasefire start time, showing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. The timing of these strikes couldn’t be independently verified by Fox News Digital.
As per Netanyahu, “The IDF struck powerfully 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and eliminated dozens of terrorists.” Effie Defrin, an IDF representative, reported that Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers in overnight strikes early Friday.
“If Hezbollah doesn’t shoot, we won’t shoot. If they shoot — we will respond,” an Israeli official stated, confirming Israel’s intent to honor the ceasefire agreement.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran planned for Switzerland this weekend were suddenly postponed. The White House has not offered a reason for this delay.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump showed frustration with Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. “Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon,” Trump commented at the G7 conference in France, stressing the importance of avoiding civilian harm.
Hezbollah, a Shiite militant organization backed by Iran, has been classified by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. The group’s conflict with Israel has spanned decades, recently characterized by rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon and Israeli efforts to prevent Hezbollah’s advancement toward its borders.
A recent Israeli airstrike caused plumes of smoke over Beirut’s southern suburbs, intensifying the conflict. Vice President stated that plans for upcoming technical talks are yet to be finalized, and the U.S. delegation remains prepared to proceed when feasible.
Iran denied reports of closing the Strait of Hormuz once more. The Iranian Armed Forces assure that measures are in place to secure the safe passage of commercial ships. However, traffic is reportedly slow due to mine-clearing operations.
Recent developments revealed a 60-day framework, concentrating on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Any U.S. military withdrawal near Iran hinges on a final agreement, not immediately mandated by the initial memorandum. The agreement also stipulated an immediate halt to military actions, including those in Lebanon. It offers oil sanctions waivers for Iran and aims at addressing Iran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium reserves.
As of the article’s publication, responses were still pending from the Pentagon, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry regarding these developments.