A ceasefire brokered by the United States and Qatar, with Iranian assistance, came into force between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday afternoon, according to US, Israeli and Hezbollah officials. Within the first hour, Lebanese security sources reported roughly a dozen Israeli airstrikes, and Hezbollah later accused Israel of a “flagrant” violation after a drone strike killed three people in a vehicle in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it had targeted armed Hezbollah members who posed a threat, and confirmed that four of its own soldiers were killed in a separate incident. The truce is explicitly linked to a wider US–Iran memorandum of understanding, digitally signed this week, which opens a 60-day window for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security.

Israeli leaders signalled that the ceasefire would not lead to an immediate withdrawal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon, Gaza and Syria for as long as necessary, and that the military retained full operational freedom. A government spokesman said no pullback would occur until Hezbollah was disarmed and the area demilitarised. Hezbollah, for its part, described the drone strike as the third “flagrant violation” of the truce but has not retaliated militarily. Lebanese and Israeli officials are currently in Washington discussing a proposed phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from the south.

Viewed from Washington, the Lebanon ceasefire is a prerequisite for the broader diplomatic track with Iran. President Donald Trump, who publicly expressed frustration with Mr Netanyahu, told NBC News that he had pressed Israel to agree to the truce, warning that continued escalation risked derailing US–Iran negotiations. Vice President JD Vance described the MoU with Iran as a “successful foundation” for a final deal, citing Tehran’s reported willingness to discuss renewed International Atomic Energy Agency inspections. The US administration has softened earlier demands for Iran’s unconditional surrender, and the MoU contains no provisions on regime change or the dismantling of ballistic missile stocks. Instead, it establishes a communication channel for the Strait of Hormuz and commits both sides to talks on nuclear activities and sanctions.

Regional analysts note that the ceasefire’s durability will depend on whether Israel’s insistence on a continued military presence can be reconciled with the diplomatic process. The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli strikes since midnight had killed 47 people and wounded 97, underscoring the human cost of the final hours before the truce. The US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is reportedly en route to Switzerland for the first round of direct negotiations with Iran. The coming days are expected to test whether the Lebanon arrangement can hold and whether the 60-day US–Iran window can produce a more permanent settlement.