A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been agreed and is due to come into effect at 4pm local time on Friday, a senior US official has told Reuters.
“Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire,” the official said, speaking on background. Negotiators from the US and Qatar worked out the deal with help from Iran, the official added, after an exchange of fire earlier in the day.
“A senior US official says Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire starting 4pm local time after US-Qatari-Iranian mediation.”
“We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” the official said.
The announcement came as the conflict, which has raged across southern Lebanon and northern Israel, left cities in ruin. In one of the hardest-hit cities, mourners wound their way through mounds of rubble, chanting and beating their chests while the dull thud of shelling echoed from the foothills just beyond.
The ceasefire marks a potential turning point in a crisis that has drawn in regional powers. The agreement follows weeks of indirect talks, with the US and Qatar acting as intermediaries and Iran playing a role in securing Hezbollah’s compliance.
Meanwhile, attention is turning to the broader regional picture. Channel 4 News has reported on a $300bn plan to rebuild Iran, and the ceasefire is seen as a test for US President Donald Trump, who faces questions over whether he has agreed to fund Iran’s reconstruction. The network’s Economics Editor Helia Ebrahimi, along with correspondents Matt Frei and Mark Urban, have explored the implications for Iran’s economy, nuclear programme, and the balance of power in the Gulf.
For now, the immediate focus is on whether the ceasefire will hold. The US official’s confirmation came just hours after the latest round of violence, raising hopes that a wider war has been averted.
“It is a fragile peace,” the official said, adding that the coming hours will be critical.