Israel and Lebanon agree to renew ceasefire as Trump seeks to overcome barriers to Iran deal

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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to renew a ceasefire and work toward a "comprehensive" agreement, in a US-mediated deal announced on Wednesday. The agreement, confirmed by the US State Department, is contingent on the "complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives" from southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement released after negotiations in Washington.

The move is seen as an effort to remove one of the largest barriers to a broader deal between the United States and Iran to end the war that began in February. The agreement comes as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified since mid-March, despite a ceasefire being in place.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from The Guardian and The New York Times — World emphasizes that the ceasefire's success depends on the cooperation of Hezbollah, which is not a party to the talks. The New York Times — World notes that Hezbollah is not part of, or controlled by, the Lebanese government and is not a party to either set of negotiations. The Guardian — World similarly reports that Hezbollah has not been included in the talks between Israel and Lebanon.

Deutsche Welle and The Hindu — World highlight the intensification of fighting since mid-March and the daily breaches of a previous ceasefire announced on April 17. Deutsche Welle reports that Lebanon says over 3,300 people have been killed and more than 10,000 injured since fighting resumed in March. The Hindu — World adds that Israeli troops are deployed deep inside Lebanese territory and that the Iran-backed militants continue to attack Israel.

Jerusalem Post coverage focuses on the diplomatic achievements of the agreement from an Israeli perspective. One article describes it as a "diplomatic achievement" for Israel, crediting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, with weakening the link Iran had sought to establish between the situation in Lebanon and the negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Another Jerusalem Post piece reports on the upcoming round of talks scheduled for June 23-25 in Washington.

ABC Australia's coverage, while limited in the provided material, fits within the broader context of the ceasefire agreement and the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Iran.

Key Claims

• US and Iran memorandum of understanding: The Hindu — World reports that the US and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding on Monday, agreeing to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and start substantive negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and US sanctions. The text of the agreement has not been immediately released, and President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be immediately opened.

• Hezbollah rejection: Hezbollah has rejected the Israel-Lebanon talks and the conditional truce. Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, called the negotiations "absurd, humiliating and insulting," demanding a comprehensive ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal. He threatened northern Israel with new attacks, saying, "As long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue."

• Israeli troop withdrawal stance: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon near the border and would not allow Lebanese citizens to return to their homes in the south. Israel says it will not withdraw troops from Lebanon, with the agreement stating that the extent of any Israeli withdrawal depends on the success of the Lebanese pilot program to disarm Hezbollah.

• US House vote: Deutsche Welle reports that the US House of Representatives approved a war powers resolution to curb the conflict, with four Republicans joining Democrats. President Trump dismissed the vote as "meaningless," calling it symbolic.

• Iran's condition: Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace deal with Washington. Tehran has suggested in recent days that it could intervene directly if Israel keeps up attacks there. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any attack on Beirut would trigger a "full-scale resumption" of war.

Perspectives

Hezbollah: The Iran-backed group rejects the ceasefire terms, demanding a comprehensive ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, called the negotiations "absurd, humiliating and insulting" and threatened continued attacks as long as Israeli forces remain in Lebanon.

Israel: Israeli officials, including Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, say Israel remains fully committed to an immediate ceasefire but will not withdraw troops from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. The IDF spokesperson stated that Israel will respond to Hezbollah's ceasefire violations and do "whatever is necessary to protect our civilians."

United States: The Trump administration presents the ceasefire as a step toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement. President Trump said he believed progress was being made between Israel and Lebanon, and he claimed to have spoken to both Israeli and Hezbollah representatives.

Lebanese Government: Lebanon's President called the conditional ceasefire the "last chance" for a durable end to the fighting, reflecting the government's desire to see an end to the conflict despite Hezbollah's rejection of the talks.