Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after overnight Israeli air strikes that Lebanon’s state news agency said killed 18 people. The truce arrives amid controversy over a reported 14-point U.S.-Iran MOU — including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a $300 billion reconstruction fund — that critics say favors Iran. Vice President J.D. Vance canceled planned Switzerland talks to formalize the agreement; Swiss officials say preparatory work continues. This is a developing story.
Breaking: Israel And Hezbollah Agree To Ceasefire After Deadly Airstrikes
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, multiple reports said on Friday, following overnight Israeli air strikes that Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said killed 18 people.
Background
The ceasefire renewal comes amid tensions around a reported 14-point U.S.-Iran Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). The memorandum has been described in reports as including measures such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Tehran — provisions that critics say reduce U.S. leverage and disproportionately benefit Iran. Tehran warned it could abandon the MOU if Israel continued strikes in Lebanon.
Recent Developments
Israel said it lost four soldiers in this week’s fighting, including a battalion commander. In response to what he described as a "blatant violation of the ceasefire," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military to strike Hezbollah "with force."
The renewed hostilities prompted Vice President J.D. Vance to cancel a planned trip to Switzerland, which had been intended to launch a 60-day negotiation period to formalize the MOU reportedly signed at the G7 summit. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the talks were canceled but said that "Switzerland remains ready to facilitate these talks" and that preparatory work in Bürgenstock is continuing.
"The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now the Vice President is not departing tonight. We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible," a White House spokesperson said.
Iran offered no immediate public reaction to the postponement. Local and international authorities continue to monitor the situation; this is a developing story and updates may follow as more information becomes available.
Source: Mediaite. This article has been updated with the latest reports.
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