A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was scheduled to take effect on Friday afternoon, coinciding with U.S. efforts to establish a broader regional framework with Iran. The ceasefire was set for 9 a.m. Eastern Time/4 p.m. local time, according to officials from the U.S. and Israel, but its formal implementation remains disputed. The White House has not confirmed whether the ceasefire is in effect.
A spokesperson for Hezbollah stated that the group would adhere to the ceasefire if Israel does, but reserves the right to respond to any violations. The spokesperson claimed that Israel continued to conduct strikes in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire was supposed to begin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video after the ceasefire's scheduled start, indicating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had targeted Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. The timing of these strikes remains unclear, and independent verification of their occurrence has not been achieved.
An IDF spokesperson reported that Hezbollah had killed four Israeli soldiers in strikes earlier that day. However, an Israeli official indicated that Israel intends to honor the ceasefire agreement, stating, "If Hezbollah doesn’t shoot, we won’t shoot. If they shoot — we will respond."
The ceasefire agreement follows the postponement of U.S.-Iran negotiations that were set to take place in Switzerland. The White House has not provided a reason for this delay. Former President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Netanyahu regarding the conflict, urging more responsible actions in Lebanon.
Hezbollah is recognized as an Iran-backed militant group and has a long-standing conflict with Israel, which has escalated recently due to rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon and Israeli counterstrikes.
Additionally, the Iranian foreign ministry denied claims that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, stating that necessary measures were in place to ensure safe passage for commercial ships. An Iranian official noted that traffic through the strait was slow due to mine-clearing operations.
U.S. officials described a memorandum signed earlier as a framework for negotiations focused on Iran's nuclear program, which includes provisions for military operations and sanctions waivers. The U.S. has indicated that any withdrawal of forces near Iran would be contingent on a final agreement, rather than immediate under the initial terms.