Lebanon’s Hezbollah has stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces inside Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday, according to three Lebanese sources close to the group, following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who played a key intermediary role in the negotiations, said the two weeks truce would extend to Lebanon, where fighting between Iran backed Hezbollah and Israel erupted on March 2.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire would not apply to Lebanon, as Israel issued a fresh evacuation order for a southern city, signaling possible imminent strikes.
Sources said Hezbollah is expected to release a formal statement clarifying its position on the ceasefire and responding to Israel’s stance. The group’s last update, posted early Tuesday, said it had targeted Israeli troops inside Lebanon the previous evening.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll, with more than 1,500 people killed in Israel’s military campaign across Lebanon, including children and women, while over 1.2 million people have been displaced by ongoing strikes and evacuation orders.
Lebanon’s army has advised displaced residents to postpone returning home due to ongoing Israeli strikes and risks from unexploded ordnance.
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