Israel ‘remains firmly committed’ to ceasefire but will continue occupation of southern Lebanon

Published June 19, 2026 7:37pm ET



Israel and Hezbollah renewed their ceasefire on Friday, but Jerusalem will continue to hold a security presence in Lebanon aimed at targeting the country’s terrorist group, according to officials.

Israel’s ambassador, Yechiel Leiter, confirmed the agreement, saying the country halted all offensive operations against Hezbollah. The United States and Qatar brokered the latest deal through talks with Israel and Iran, a senior U.S. official told multiple outlets, with the ceasefire beginning at 4 p.m. local time on ⁠Friday. The development comes after President Donald Trump told NBC News earlier Friday that he spoke with Israel and asked it to agree to the ceasefire.

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