Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, effective around 4 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Hanoi time) on 19/6, a US official announced. The agreement was brokered through mediation efforts by Qatar, the United States, and Iran, a Gulf official confirmed.

The ceasefire comes after a Hezbollah political official revealed that Iran had informed the armed group that Tehran could not continue negotiations with Washington without an effective cessation of hostilities. This development highlights the immediate pressure to de-escalate tensions.

A senior Israeli official stated that Tel Aviv would uphold the ceasefire, provided Hezbollah refrains from attacking Israel. The Israeli military will maintain its presence in its controlled areas of southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei warned that the US bears direct responsibility for Israel's attacks in Lebanon, asserting that Tehran would take all measures to protect its interests, security, and allies.

The agreement follows intense hostilities earlier on 19/6. The Israeli military announced it had attacked over 80 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, killing dozens of members of the Iran-backed group. Lebanese officials reported 21 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

Conversely, the Israeli military confirmed that 4 of its soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed after a Hezbollah tank ambush. This marks the first time the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have sustained casualties since a US-Iran memorandum was signed, which included a clause requiring Israel to end its operations in Lebanon.

Smoke rises from a site hit by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on 19/6. *Photo: AFP*

Location of Israel and Lebanon. *Graphic: RANE*

Lebanon became embroiled in the Middle East conflict on 2/3 when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israeli territory. This was in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei during a US-Israel airstrike. Israel responded with airstrikes across Lebanon and deployed troops into the southern parts of the neighboring country. Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting until Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanon.

The two sides had previously agreed to ceasefires on 17/4 and 3/6, but clashes resumed on both occasions.

Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Reuters)