Israel and Lebanon said on Wednesday they have agreed to renew a ceasefire arrangement and continue negotiations aimed at a broader peace framework, according to a joint statement issued alongside the United States.
The agreement is conditional on a “complete cessation of fire” by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Leiter said. Hezbollah is not part of the Lebanese government and is not formally involved in the talks, according to officials.
The announcement follows months of cross-border violence that escalated after Israeli and US strikes on Iran on February 28, which were followed by a retaliatory attack on Israel by Hezbollah on March 2, according to earlier statements cited by officials.
A US-brokered truce in Lebanon came into effect on April 17, but sporadic attacks have continued since then, undermining efforts to stabilise the border situation.
The joint statement said both sides had agreed to establish “pilot zones” in which the Lebanese Armed Forces would assume “exclusive control”, with all non-state armed actors excluded from these areas. The measure is intended to strengthen state authority and reduce militia activity in border regions, it said.
The talks were held after four rounds of high-level discussions between Israeli and Lebanese representatives over the past week, the statement added.
It said the steps were aimed at advancing toward a “comprehensive peace and security agreement” between the two countries, which remain technically in a state of hostility.
Both sides reaffirmed that they did not intend to act against each other and agreed to continue direct negotiations to address unresolved disputes. The statement added that the future relationship between Israel and Lebanon should be determined by their respective governments, rejecting what it described as attempts by “any state or non-state actor” to influence Lebanon’s sovereignty or political direction.
The framework also outlined discussions on broader security arrangements designed to safeguard territorial integrity and sovereignty on both sides, including efforts to dismantle armed non-state groups and prevent their re-emergence.
The United States reiterated its backing for both Beirut and Tel Aviv, saying any final ceasefire arrangement must be reached directly between Israel and Lebanon, with Washington acting as mediator.
Lebanon, for its part, committed to strengthening the capacity of its armed forces, with US assistance, to extend effective control across its territory, according to the statement. It also reaffirmed the importance of respecting internationally recognised borders.
The two countries agreed to reconvene during the week of June 22 with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.
Despite the diplomatic progress, hostilities continued on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it intercepted a “hostile aircraft” and two projectiles launched from Lebanese territory, according to a statement carried by Israeli media.
Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at Israeli soldiers in northern Israel, describing the attack as retaliation for what it called violations of the ceasefire by the Israeli military.
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least nine people, including two paramedics whose ambulance was hit during the bombardment, according to officials.
The situation along the Israel-Lebanon border remains tense despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilise the ceasefire and prevent further escalation.
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