Israel-Lebanon ceasefire takes effect: As it happened

Hassan Fadlallah, a Lebanese MP from Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, told Al Mayadeen that Iranian officials would monitor the implementation of the ceasefire by Israel and the US.

“We are used to Israel violating its pledges,” Fadlallah said.

Without explicitly recognizing the US-mediated deal, Hezbollah released a short statement saying that “a ceasefire must include a comprehensive halt to attacks across all Lebanese territory, with no freedom of movement for Israeli forces, and a return to the situation prior to March 2.”

The armed group did not participate in the talks and had previously dismissed the negotiations in Washington as “futile.”

US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time.”

“It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!” he added.

The IDF said its troops continue to maintain their positions in southern Lebanon amid ongoing Hezbollah activity and urged residents who fled north of the Litani River not to return until further notice.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli artillery continued shelling the towns of Khiam and Dibbine an hour after the ceasefire took effect.

After the ceasefire was announced, crowds took to the streets of Beirut to celebrate, with some waving Hezbollah flags and carrying portraits of Hassan Nasrallah, a longtime Hezbollah leader assassinated by Israel in 2024.

Shortly before the truce took effect, the IDF said it had struck more than 380 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including rocket launchers.

According to a text released by the US State Department, Israel agreed to “not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets, within the territory of Lebanon by land, air, or sea.”

At the same time, Israel reserves the right to take “all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

The Lebanese government agreed to “take meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah and “all other rogue non-state armed groups” on its territory from engaging in “hostile activities against Israeli targets.”