US official says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreed as Trump lashes out Iran deal critics – Middle East crisis live
"US official tells Reuters news agency that ceasefire has now come into effect
At least 21 people killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, local health officials say
Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon today have killed at least 21 people, according to the Lebanese health officials.
The IDF also announced four of its soldiers were killed in Lebanon as violence escalated between the Israeli military and Hezbollah overnight.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed 18 people and wounded 33, the country’s health ministry said, according to the state-run National News Agency. Another three people were killed and six injured in attacks in the eastern Baalbek area, which had been largely spared since the start of the renewed conflict in March.
The IDF said the strikes were in response to “repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah”.
Lebanese president says Israel's attacks 'a dangerous and reprehensible escalation'
The president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, condemned Israel’s attacks in his country as “a dangerous and reprehensible escalation”.
In a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun said the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon “effectively undermine all ongoing attempts to consolidate the ceasefire and end the war”.
The statement said:
What we are witnessing today in the south and the Bekaa – an escalation of Israeli attacks and further killing and destruction – constitutes a dangerous and reprehensible escalation, particularly as it has affected dozens of innocent people, including women and children, and effectively undermines all ongoing attempts to consolidate the ceasefire and end the war, particularly following the recent developments between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, this will not prevent us from working to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible; this is what I have recommended to the Lebanese negotiating delegation for the forthcoming round of talks in Washington. There can be no compromise on this issue, as a comprehensive ceasefire is the prerequisite for discussing other matters, the most important of which are the Israeli withdrawal, the deployment of the army and the return of prisoners.”
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