Israel Strikes Beirut, Killing 10, After Hezbollah Fires Rockets Into Israel, Violating US-Brokered Ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire contingent on Hezbollah actions, including the group’s withdrawal from designated areas in southern Lebanon. The agreement includes creation of Lebanese security zones where Hezbollah operatives would be banned.

According to multiple reports citing the terms, the deal establishes “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah must withdraw. Source [5] describes the plan as “tied to Hezbollah withdrawal.” Source [6] reports the agreement creates “Lebanese security zones.” Source [8] states Hezbollah would be “banned from ‘pilot’ security zones.”

The U.S. State Department released a statement announcing the agreement. Sources [3] and [4] report the ceasefire is “contingent on Hezbollah actions.” Source [3] specifies it is “contingent on a complete cessation of attacks by Hezbollah, among other conditions.”

The agreement was announced on Wednesday. Lebanese state media and other outlets reported that Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel on the same day. Israeli strikes were also reported in southern Lebanon that day, with at least nine people killed according to initial tallies that appeared in several sources.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli strikes continued on Thursday. It said at least 10 people were killed and 27 injured in an Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut. BBC correspondent John Sudworth reported from the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh in Beirut.

No source in the bundle attributes direct quotes from Hezbollah officials confirming acceptance of the buffer-zone restrictions or withdrawal timeline. The U.S. State Department statement does not publicly detail verification mechanisms for the security zones or name specific Hezbollah units required to withdraw.