Israel and Lebanon Agree to Implement Ceasefire

Meeting of the Lebanese delegation with Israel at the US State Department. (X/@MOSSADil)

Lebanon and Israel said on Wednesday they had agreed to a ceasefire after negotiations in Washington, United States aimed at ending a conflict that has flared alongside the war in Iran.

The truce depends on a total cessation of fire from the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia and the evacuation of all its members from the South Litani Sector, according to a joint statement released with the United States.

"Both sides agreed with the direction of the United States to immediately advance the establishment of a pilot zone where the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the area, excluding all non-state actors," said a joint statement, reported Al Arabiya from Reuters (4/6).

The two sides also agreed to conduct further direct negotiations to build trust and resolve other outstanding issues. The two countries will meet again to hold political and security-related talks during the week of June 22 with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement, according to the statement.

Israel and Lebanon had previously agreed to a cessation of hostilities in April which was then extended in May, but violence continued.

Separately, an Israeli drone strike killed at least six people in southern Lebanon and targeted a car south of Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanese security sources said.

Israel said it had intercepted an enemy aircraft that was likely fired by Hezbollah.

A US-brokered deal announced on Monday has led Israel to back down from an offensive on Hezbollah-held southern Beirut suburbs, and the Iran-backed group has halted cross-border attacks.

Israel invaded Lebanon in March to pursue Hezbollah, which fired across the border to support Tehran.

On the other hand, Iran said it would not agree to an agreement to end the conflict with the United States and Israel launched in late February, unless the ceasefire also included Lebanon.