Israel and Hezbollah renew ceasefire days after Donald Trump signs peace deal with Iran

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to renew a ceasefire agreement just days after United States President Donald Trump signed a peace deal with Iran, sources have said.

The ceasefire was anticipated to begin at 4pm local time (2pm BST), having been mediated by the US and Qatar, according to a source close to the discussion.

Another source said Iran was also involved in the mediations.

However, a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) denied any knowledge of a ceasefire in a briefing this afternoon, CNN reports.

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They said: "We continue to act according to the political directives in place. Unless those directives change, we will continue operating accordingly."

Despite chatter of a ceasefire in place, Israeli forces struck Lebanon today, killing at least 47 people, the Lebanese health ministry has said.

The attack came after Hezbollah killed four Israeli soldiers in the south of Lebanon.

Iran condemned Israel's action and warned any agreement with the US depends upon the ceasing of hostilities against Lebanon.

The Islamic Republic cited the first clause of the peace agreement, which was signed on Wednesday, in which it states: "The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph."

US Vice President JD Vance was due to hold technical talks with Tehran in Switzerland to tease out the intricacies of the peace agreement, but his trip was cancelled after Iran sought guarantees over Lebanon.

Mr Vance also criticised Israel for striking Lebanon as it stalled the progress of what already appears to be fragile negotiations.

Washington told Tehran officials Israel has agreed to de-escalate in Lebanon, it has been said.

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Within the Israeli Government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is feeling pressure from the hawks in his Government, who are in support of continuing attacks against Lebanon.

Mminister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said "all of Lebanon should burn".

Hezbollah have cast doubt on the durability of the renewed ceasefire with Israel while tentatively agreeing to avoid further conflict.

The Shia Islamist political party warned it reserves the right to respond if Israel does not hold on to its end of the agreement.

Hezbollah parliamentary member Ibrahim al-Moussawi said: "We will abide by the ceasefire if Israel abides by it, and we have the right to respond."

A senior Hezbollah figure said fighters would respect the ceasefire but accused Israel of attempting to undermine the broader Iranian-American agreement.

They said: "What Israel is doing is aimed at disrupting the ceasefire agreement, specifically the Iranian-American agreement, which includes a comprehensive and complete ceasefire in Lebanon."

The IDF will continue to operate in southern Lebanon, its spokesman Effie Defrin said.

He said: "These attacks by Hezbollah are violations of the ceasefire. They prove that Hezbollah’s goals remain the same: to remain on Israel’s borders and to plan and carry out attacks on our civilians.

"This is not a reality we can accept, and this is exactly why the IDF continues to operate in southern Lebanon."

The Hezbollah official rejected any suggestion Israeli forces had the right to operate in southern Lebanon under the terms of the deal.

They argued this "justifies Lebanon's right to resist this occupation" and warned Israeli military movements in the country would receive "a suitable response".

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