Lebanon announces partial Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire amid continuing clashes

WEB DESK: A partial ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been announced by Lebanon in what appears to be a limited attempt to ease hostilities that have engulfed southern Lebanon and wider regional tensions.

However, fighting continued on the ground, underscoring the fragility of the arrangement.

The agreement, described by Lebanon’s embassy in Washington, does not bring a complete end to the conflict but seeks to restrict certain categories of attacks between the two sides, according to The Express Tribune.

The announcement comes as violence in southern Lebanon persists, with reported cross-border strikes and interceptions continuing into Monday night and early Tuesday.

Ceasefire terms and ongoing hostilities

Under the reported arrangement, Israel would refrain from carrying out strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs, areas largely under Hezbollah influence, while Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israeli territory. Despite this, Israeli forces said they intercepted projectiles launched from Lebanon, with no casualties reported.

Israeli operations in southern Lebanon have continued, with military activity reportedly advancing towards deeper positions in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that operations would proceed in the south, signalling that the ceasefire understanding does not cover ground operations in full.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has signalled conditional support for a broader ceasefire across Lebanon, linking any durable calm to Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas, while stopping short of confirming a full halt to cross-border strikes.

Diplomatic manoeuvres and regional tensions

The announcement was first publicised by US President Donald Trump, who said indirect communications had led to understandings between the parties, including assurances that Hezbollah would avoid attacks on Israel.

Israel has not fully confirmed such commitments, and has indicated its military campaign will continue in parts of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon has said it will pursue efforts in Washington to expand the ceasefire into a more comprehensive arrangement, though negotiations remain stalled amid differing positions on sequencing and enforcement.

The developments come against a backdrop of wider regional instability, including tensions involving Iran, which has linked the Lebanon conflict to broader confrontations in the region and warned of potential escalation in strategic maritime routes. Oil markets reacted to the uncertainty, with prices rising amid fears of further disruption.