Israel And Hezbollah Renew Ceasefire At 4pm As Israeli Strikes Kill At Least 47

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew their ceasefire at 4pm local time on Friday, but Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa valley continued as the truce was announced, killing at least 47 people and wounding 97 others, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

“The Israeli military has killed at least 47 people as it launched air strikes amid “intense fighting” in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry”

Al Jazeera

The flare-up followed the killing of four Israeli soldiers, including a battalion commander in an attack on a tank in the Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit, and Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets across southern and eastern Lebanon in response.

Al Jazeera

The Guardian reported that the Israeli army would “carry on with its mission [in southern Lebanon] until ordered otherwise,” even as the ceasefire was set to take effect.

The BBC said Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 47 people killed after Israeli air strikes, while the Israeli military said four of its soldiers were also killed, as the ceasefire was confirmed for Friday afternoon.

Donald Trump told NBC News in a phone interview that he asked Israel to agree the ceasefire with Hezbollah, saying, “You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head,” as fighting continued.

Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun told the US secretary of state Marco Rubio that a “comprehensive” ceasefire was a “fundamental pillar” for advancing negotiations in Washington next week, according to The Guardian.

Anadolu Ajansı

The BBC reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended condolences to the four Israeli soldiers killed and instructed the IDF to “strike Hezbollah with full force,” while also quoting Aoun saying the “expansion of Israeli attacks constitute a dangerous escalation.”

In parallel, the Express Tribune said a senior US official told reporters on background that “We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” after US-Iran talks in Switzerland were cancelled as fighting flared in Lebanon.

The ceasefire and the fighting both fed into uncertainty over US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland, with the Guardian saying talks due to take place on Friday were abruptly cancelled and creating new uncertainty about the timing of negotiations during the 60-day window.

“Lebanese president condemns latest Israeli attacks, urges ‘comprehensive ceasefire’ Israel killed at least 31 Lebanese since early Friday despite US-Iran deal taking effect Lina Altawell 19 June 2026•Update: 19 June 2026 İSTANBUL Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned Israel’s recent attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon that have expanded, causing more killing and destruction and called for a "comprehensive ceasefire as fast as possible”

Anadolu Ajansı

The Guardian reported that the next round of Israel-Lebanon talks will be held on 23–25 June in Washington, after a call between Marco Rubio and Joseph Aoun, and it quoted Rubio’s statement that he reiterated the need to disarm Hezbollah.

The AP said the interim US-Iran agreement had already reopened the Strait of Hormuz and called for a halt to military operations in Lebanon and for sovereignty to be respected, while Netanyahu vowed to keep Israeli forces in southern Lebanon until the threat is eliminated.

The BBC added that Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said “all of Lebanon must burn,” and it also reported that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Israel to “respect” the US-Iran deal signed on Thursday.