A ceasefire backed by the United States between Israel and the Hezbollah, supported by Iran, was anticipated to begin on Friday afternoon. This move came as Washington sought to rescue wider regional negotiations with Iran after scheduled talks in Switzerland were suddenly halted.
Ceasefire Details
The ceasefire was planned to start at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, or 4 p.m. local time, according to senior officials from the U.S. and Israel. However, conflicting reports have emerged about whether it formally took effect. The White House has not made any public statements regarding the ceasefire’s implementation.
A spokesperson for Hezbollah mentioned that they would adhere to the ceasefire if Israel did the same, though they “reserve the right to respond” to any breaches. The spokesperson also claimed that Israel continued operations in southern Lebanon beyond the expected start, and thus they did not consider the ceasefire effective.
Reactions and Statements
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video post the set start time, alleging that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon, but the timing of these events remains unclear and unverified independently.
Netanyahu stated, “As I instructed, the IDF struck powerfully 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and eliminated numerous terrorists.” Meanwhile, Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesperson, reported that Hezbollah’s overnight actions had resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers.
An Israeli official remarked that Israel intended to respect the ceasefire agreement, stating, “If Hezbollah doesn’t shoot, we won’t shoot. If they shoot — we will respond.”
Previously planned negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland were unexpectedly delayed. The White House has not disclosed the reasons behind the postponement.
Additional Commentary
Donald Trump expressed his growing dissatisfaction with Netanyahu regarding the ongoing conflict. Speaking at the G7 conference in France, Trump stated, “Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon. Too many people are being killed, and you don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody.”
Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group backed by Iran, has been designated a foreign terrorist entity by the U.S. The group’s conflict with Israel continues from decades of tension, currently driven by rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon and retaliatory Israeli strikes.
The Vice President mentioned that plans for upcoming technical discussions have not been determined, though the U.S. delegation is ready to embark at the first chance. The complex logistics of talks have led to this unpredictability.
In Iran, the foreign ministry refuted reports of blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Esmail Baghaei from the ministry stated that measures have been taken to secure commercial passage through the strait, as per the Memorandum of Understanding on the End of the War dated June 18, 1405.
An unnamed Iranian official informed Fox News Digital that traffic was progressing “slowly” at the strait due to ongoing mine-clearing activities.
Negotiation Framework
The U.S. officials described the memorandum, signed recently, as a 60-day framework aimed at drafting a final agreement, with a significant focus on Iran’s nuclear agenda. They indicated that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from vicinities near Iran would be conditional on this final deal and not instantly mandated by the initial agreement.
The agreement outlined plans for “immediate and permanent cessation of military actions across all fronts, including in Lebanon.” This included offering immediate waivers for oil sanctions against Iran and discussions over Iran’s nuclear program, specifically its enriched uranium reserves.
Upon reaching out for comments, responses from the Pentagon, Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, and Iranian Foreign Ministry were not received at the time of publication.