US Official: Israel and Hezbollah Agree to Ceasefire

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, with the truce scheduled to take effect Friday afternoon at 4:00 PM local time. The announcement came from a U.S. official who stated that negotiators from the United States and Qatar, with support from Iran, facilitated the agreement.

"It is our understanding that Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire following exchanges of fire earlier today," the official told Reuters. This development follows a night and morning of significant military engagements, with the Israeli military (IDF) launching strikes on multiple Hezbollah targets. The intensity of the exchanges highlights the volatile security situation along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Earlier on Friday, Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported that at least 18 people had been killed and 33 injured in the cross-border violence. It remains unclear whether the casualties included both Hezbollah militants and civilians. On the Israeli side, the military confirmed that four soldiers had been killed during the hostilities.

The agreement for a ceasefire marks a de-escalation of recent tensions, though the long-term stability of the truce remains to be seen. The involvement of multiple international actors in brokering the deal underscores the regional implications of the conflict.