Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting straightaway, says US official

Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire starting straightaway, says US official Iran has insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon is necessary for talks to continue, according to a Hezbollah MP. Israel and Lebanese militia Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, according to a US official. The two countries are said to have agreed to a truce which the official said came into effect at 2pm UK time (4pm local time) today. There has not yet been any confirmation from Israel or Hezbollah on the ceasefire. Previous ceasefires between both sides, struck at multiple points during the war, have not lasted, however. A comprehensive ceasefire was supposed to apply from today "on all fronts" of the Iran war, including Lebanon, according to the framework deal struck by the US and Iran. However Israel has attacked areas in Lebanon's south overnight, saying it killed "dozens of Hezbollah terrorists". Lebanese officials said that women and children were among those killed. Benjamin Netanyahu framed this as a response to Hezbollah attacks that killed four Israeli soldiers. This morning Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported at least 16 people were killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah reported intense fighting in the area. Meanwhile, Israel said four of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon, including a lieutenant colonel. The peace deal between Iran and the US specifically includes Lebanon - it was signed US president Donald Trump to avoid “economic catastrophe” in the US, he said. The closure by Iran of the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices soaring in the West with financial markets uneasy and inflation rising. More than 12.5 million barrels of oil were shipped through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night following the signing of the US-Iran peace deal, the US said. Iran has insisted Israel must withdraw from the large areas of southern Lebanon it is occupying, however Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections later this year, has so-far refused to withdraw. Donald Trump has grown increasingly publicly frustrated with Netanyahu's continued attacks on Lebanon. “Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did — I have had a great relationship with Bibi,” Trump said on the day before the Iran deal was signed. “Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.” Talks between the US and Iran, due to begin in Switzerland today, have been delayed.