On Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that a ceasefire agreement with Israel had been finalized. However, it was quickly dismissed by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group, which claimed that “any effective agreement must start with Israel completely withdrawing from all Lebanese land.”
Hezbollah also emphasized that conditions like “the return of displaced individuals, reconstruction efforts, and releasing Lebanese prisoners of war” are “essential prerequisites for any future deal.”
Aoun stated that this agreement represents “the last chance for a final and comprehensive ceasefire,” adding that “each party is responsible” for their decisions regarding this opportunity.
The Lebanese president mentioned that the deal was supposed to take effect within 24 hours, with the United States acting as a guarantor, having hosted the negotiations in Washington.
Israel has tentatively agreed to the terms but under certain conditions. There was discussion of establishing a “test zone” overseen by the Lebanese army, which would exclude non-state actors. This arrangement was seen as a compromise that would address Israel’s security concerns without requiring it to annex significant Lebanese territory to prevent Hezbollah’s weapons from threatening its civilians.
However, Israel’s acceptance hinged on Hezbollah agreeing to a complete ceasefire. Yet, just hours after Aoun’s announcement, missiles from Hezbollah were falling, and air raid sirens blared again across northern Israel.
Shortly after, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that Israel would not be pulling its troops from Lebanese territory and would continue to “dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the region,” ensuring civilians in Lebanon remain clear of the occupied areas.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reported that Lebanese troops would continue to be deployed in the “test zone” outlined in the initial phase of the deal, although Hezbollah’s rejection left it unclear how these forces would respond to any possible resistance.
Israel also conducted more airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, while Hezbollah responded by continuing its counterattacks against Israeli positions near the Beaufort castle. That same afternoon, Israel announced that one of its soldiers, Captain Eitan Shmuel Lemberg, aged 21, had “fallen in action” due to a missile attack on an Israeli tank.
Hezbollah’s Iranian supporters reiterated the demand for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces as a prerequisite for any ceasefire. They maintain that a ceasefire between Iran and the United States cannot happen until Israel leaves Lebanon.
Esmail Qaani, head of the Quds Force division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, stated, “The minimum demand of the resistance is for the usurping regime to retreat to the position it held before the start of the 40-day war.” He stressed the importance of supporting the resistance in Lebanon, asserting that removing Israel from the region is an attainable goal for Muslims.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations, condemned the killing of a Serbian peacekeeper, Sergeant Milovan Jovanevich, when mortar fire struck his position in southeastern Lebanon. He noted that “since the escalation of fighting began on March 2, 2026, seven peacekeepers from UNIFIL have been killed, with several others wounded.”
Guterres insisted that “all attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable.” He expressed support for the ceasefire negotiated in Washington and called for Hezbollah to respect “the Lebanese government’s authority and exclusive control of arms,” urging Israel to withdraw its troops.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated that “a deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council resolutions” and could amount to a war crime. They noted that it was unclear who specifically fired the mortar that killed the peacekeepers, but it appeared to have originated from north of the Litani River, a region where Israeli forces had recently crossed the border.
