U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Includes Lebanon, Israeli Officials Signal Continued Operations

A U.S.-Iran agreement announced Monday includes an immediate end to military operations in Lebanon, according to Iranian and Pakistani officials. The announcement prompted some displaced residents to begin returning to southern villages, though Lebanese officials warned people from border areas to wait until security conditions are clearer.

Videos posted Monday showed residents crossing bridges back toward their homes in the south. Officials stated that full implementation would require Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas and a halt to strikes.

Background on the Conflict The current round of fighting began March 2 after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel. Israel has conducted operations that killed at least 3,783 people and wounded 11,699, while displacing more than 1.2 million residents from southern Lebanon, Beirut's southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley.

Previous ceasefire declarations in November 2024, April 2025, and June 2025 produced limited results. Israel continued strikes after each announcement and maintained positions at five points along the border.

Lebanon's president welcomed the latest agreement and called for concrete steps to end the cycle of violence. Parliament speaker Nabih Berri praised the inclusion of a clause halting Israeli operations across all Lebanese territory. Israeli officials stated they will keep forces in security zones in Lebanon without a time limit.

As of Monday afternoon, Hezbollah had not conducted operations since the announcement, though Lebanese state media reported an Israeli drone strike that killed one person in the south. A political analyst told Al Jazeera that residents are waiting for Israeli withdrawal and a national defense plan before normal life can resume.