Israel and Lebanon agreed to a “full ceasefire,” the U.S. State Department announced on Thursday morning following the fourth round of talks between the two countries, mediated by the United States.
According to the statement, a key condition for implementing the ceasefire is a complete cessation of fire by Hezbollah and the withdrawal of all its operatives from areas south of the Litani River. It was also agreed that the countries would establish “pilot areas” that would come under the control of the Lebanese Army, with no presence of Hezbollah forces. The Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar, which is not affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that Israeli airstrikes stopped “immediately after the statement was published.”
Lebanese sources told the newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan that the Lebanese side proposed Bint Jbeil as the first pilot area, but the Israeli side did not express agreement. The Lebanese sources added: “No one has agreed on anything; Bint Jbeil was proposed as an idea, but the matter has not been decided, although Lebanon is open to any area or strip of land.”
Around 6:00 a.m., alerts were triggered in Arab al-Aramshe in the Western Galilee, and a few minutes later in Kiryat Shmona in the Upper Galilee.
The IDF Spokesperson said the details were under review, and later stated that a “suspicious aerial target” was identified in the Upper Galilee, but contact with it was lost and the incident ended without casualties. The alert in Arab al-Aramshe was triggered due to a false alarm.
Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Mouwad, said: “This is a historic moment for Lebanon, and we thank President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and the entire task force.”
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, also commented on the talks, describing them as “an important step toward peace between Israel and Lebanon,” but emphasized: “Make no mistake — if Hezbollah thinks this outcome grants it immunity, it is mistaken.”In a statement by the U.S. State Department, it was emphasized that: “The future of relations between Israel and Lebanon must be determined by the two sovereign governments. They have rejected any attempts, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage. Israel and Lebanon have reaffirmed that they have no hostile intentions toward one another, and have committed to continue direct negotiations in order to build trust, resolve all remaining outstanding issues, and work toward a comprehensive agreement between the two countries.”
