Israel, Hezbollah agree to renewed ceasefire after strikes

Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group, agreed to pause their fighting on Friday, just hours after the Israeli military launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the ceasefire deal but added that Israel is prepared “to continue fighting if called upon to do so.”

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or Iran. 

The lull on the battlefield reportedly went into effect at 4 p.m.

Reuters reported that the U.S. and Qatar brokered the agreement following discussions between Iran and Israel. 

The agreement comes just hours after Israel bombed Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon. The strikes, centered on the city of Nabatieh, killed at least 18 people and injured 33, according to Lebanese health officials. 

Israel Katz, Israel’s defense minister, said Israel struck more than 80 targets in Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah’s attacks the day prior that killed four Israeli soldiers. 

The bombing put more pressure on the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, which calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. 

Israeli officials have, in recent days, suggested that they would not adhere to the deal’s terms and have insisted that their country’s troops will not withdraw from its occupation zone in southern Lebanon.