BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Lebanon said on Monday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a limited ceasefire aimed at reducing hostilities around Beirut, although clashes continued in southern parts of the country, underscoring the fragility of the arrangement.
The announcement marked the first significant effort to ease tensions in the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and become closely linked to the wider confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
According to Lebanese officials, the understanding does not amount to a comprehensive ceasefire. Instead, Israel is expected to halt strikes on Beirut and surrounding Hezbollah-controlled areas, while Hezbollah would suspend attacks on Israeli territory.
Despite the announcement, military activity continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been conducting ground operations since March. Early on Tuesday, the Israeli military reported intercepting two rockets launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, adding that there were no casualties.
US President Donald Trump, who first disclosed details of the arrangement, said Hezbollah had communicated through intermediaries that it would refrain from attacking Israel. He also stated that Israeli Prime Minister Donald Trump had agreed to withdraw forces preparing for operations against Beirut.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later made clear that military operations in southern Lebanon would continue. Israeli troops are currently advancing towards the Zaharani River, representing the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanon in more than two decades.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah welcomed efforts toward a broader ceasefire but said any lasting agreement would require the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. He stopped short of explicitly confirming that Hezbollah would suspend all attacks on Israel.
Lebanese authorities said they would seek to broaden the agreement during talks with Israeli representatives scheduled to take place in Washington later this week.
The limited truce could potentially revive diplomatic efforts to end the wider regional conflict that erupted following US and Israeli military action against Iran earlier this year. Negotiations aimed at reaching a broader settlement have stalled for weeks despite an existing but fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.