By Laila Bassam, Pesha Magid and Steve Holland
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official said, after an escalation in hostilities in Lebanon sorely tested the U.S.-Iranian interim deal to end the wider Middle East conflict.
A senior Israeli official and two Hezbollah sources confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters, which the U.S. official said was due to begin at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT)
"If Hezbollah does not attack us, then for us it is not a time of war," the Israeli official said. Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon, the official added.
Two Lebanese security sources said Israel carried out a dozen airstrikes in the first hour after the ceasefire came into effect, but none were recorded after 5 p.m.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON, June 19 (Reuters) - Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official said, after an escalation in hostilities in Lebanon sorely tested the U.S.-Iranian interim deal to end the wider Middle East conflict.
A senior Israeli official and two Hezbollah sources confirmed the ceasefire to Reuters, which the U.S. official said was due to begin at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT)
"If Hezbollah does not attack us, then for us it is not a time of war," the Israeli official said. Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon, the official added.
Two Lebanese security sources said Israel carried out a dozen airstrikes in the first hour after the ceasefire came into effect, but none were recorded after 5 p.m.
5 months ago
