Israel and Hezbollah Halt Heavy Fighting in Southern Lebanon as Explosions Continue

Israel and Hezbollah agreed Friday to halt heavy fighting in southern Lebanon, but neither side immediately confirmed the truce as explosions and artillery fire continued along the Lebanese border.

The ceasefire attempt followed a heavy exchange of fire that killed 47 people in Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers, according to officials cited by CBC.

CBC

In Beirut, June 19, Lebanon’s health ministry said 18 people were killed and 33 wounded in heavy airstrikes in 11 towns since midnight, with the toll expected to rise as bombardment prevented rescue and evacuation efforts.

The Korea Times reported that Israel’s military said four soldiers were killed in one of the deadliest single incidents since the latest escalation began, while Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed an Israeli force near Ali al-Taher hill and destroyed three Merkava tanks with guided missiles.

In the same reporting, Israel said its strikes targeted what it described as Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon in response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.

The truce effort was mediated by Qatar, the U.S. and Iran, and CBC said it came from two regional officials and a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment, but CBC said Netanyahu posted Friday on X that, on his orders, the Israeli army had "struck powerfully" 150 Hezbollah targets, killing dozens of militants.

Defence Security Asia

Hezbollah, for its part, refused to halt attacks unless Israel commits to withdrawing from Lebanon, which Iran says is also a condition of the deal, according to CBC.

In Beirut, Reuters reported that Paris urged Washington to put pressure on Israel to stop hostilities in Lebanon, where intensifying violence strained the interim U.S.-Iran arrangement.

The Korea Times added that a senior Israeli official said Israel was engaged in "stubborn negotiations" with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration over maintaining troops up to 10 km inside southern Lebanon as it pursues Hezbollah.

The interim agreement described by CBC calls for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and for Lebanon’s sovereignty to be respected, but it also said neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a party to the deal.

“Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah agreed Friday to halt heavy fighting in southern Lebanon that had threatened to unravel an interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end their war, officials said”

CBC

CBC reported that the agreement already faced threats, chiefly from Lebanon, where fighting led to a delay in talks planned for Friday in Switzerland.

Malay Mail said the deal requires the United States, Iran, and their allies to declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, and noted that violence abated earlier this week before picking up again.

In southern Lebanon, Hezbollah said it targeted an Israeli force attempting to infiltrate toward the northern side of Ali al-Tahir Peak, describing a lured unit in a "kill zone" and saying it targeted three Merkava tanks with guided missiles.

As hostilities continued, the Palestine Chronicle live blog marked Day 112 and said an Israeli battalion linked to the killing of Hind Rajab lost its commander and three soldiers in Lebanon, underscoring the ongoing toll reported in the same coverage stream.