Israel and Lebanon have reached a new US-mediated agreement aimed at reinforcing a fragile ceasefire, with plans to establish special security zones inside Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives will be barred from operating.
The agreement was announced in Washington following a fourth round of negotiations involving US, Israeli and Lebanese officials. According to a joint statement, the deal is dependent on a complete halt to attacks by Hezbollah and includes broader commitments designed to stabilize southern Lebanon and prevent further escalation along the border.
A key element of the framework involves the removal of all Hezbollah personnel from the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River, a region approximately 30 kilometres north of the frontier that is currently occupied by Israeli ground forces. The United States will assist in creating a number of pilot security zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces will exercise exclusive authority, preventing the presence of any non-state armed groups.
While the announcement outlined the broad objectives of the arrangement, officials did not release maps showing where the security zones would be located or explain how they would operate in practice. Further discussions are scheduled for 22 June, with both sides aiming to work toward a more comprehensive and lasting agreement.
The new initiative follows a limited ceasefire announced earlier this week under which Israel agreed to refrain from launching major strikes on Beirut, while Hezbollah would suspend attacks against Israeli territory. However, the truce has remained fragile, with violence continuing on both sides of the border.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, Lebanese media reported fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, including at least one attack that caused casualties. The previous day saw some of the deadliest violence since the partial ceasefire was announced.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that at least nine people were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday. Among the victims were two paramedics whose ambulance was struck in the Chehour area. Additional fatalities were recorded near the coastal city of Tyre, where strikes killed several foreign nationals. Lebanese authorities accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law by targeting medical personnel and emergency services.
The Lebanese army also reported casualties among its ranks, saying one soldier was killed and two others injured in separate Israeli attacks. Military officials condemned what they described as repeated strikes against army personnel and infrastructure.
At the same time, Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel, claiming the attacks were a response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire. The Israeli military said it intercepted a drone and several projectiles that crossed the border from Lebanon.
The conflict escalated dramatically after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on 2 March following an Israeli strike that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with extensive air strikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south, drawing the country deeper into the wider regional confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
According to Lebanese health authorities, more than 3,500 people have been killed since the fighting began, while the United Nations estimates that over one million people have been displaced. Israeli officials say 26 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during the conflict.
The agreement has already generated political controversy. Hezbollah has yet to formally endorse the latest framework, and senior figures within the group have expressed skepticism about negotiations involving Israel and Lebanon. Mahmoud Qamati, a member of Hezbollah’s political council, previously stated that the organization does not recognize the talks and would not consider itself bound by any commitments resulting from them.
In Israel, the deal was criticized by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who argued that limiting military pressure could allow Hezbollah to rebuild its capabilities and strengthen its position inside Lebanon.
The diplomatic push comes amid broader regional efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding further. US President Donald Trump has reportedly pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid additional escalation in Lebanon, fearing that continued fighting could undermine wider negotiations aimed at ending the conflict involving Iran.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that any regional ceasefire must include Lebanon and has warned that renewed attacks on Beirut could trigger a stronger response. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran’s armed forces remain prepared to resume military action if Israeli operations intensify.
While the latest agreement offers a potential path toward reducing violence, continued clashes on the ground and uncertainty over Hezbollah’s participation suggest that significant obstacles remain before a lasting peace can be achieved.
