ByIDAN KWELLERJUNE 4, 2026 02:10Updated: JUNE 4, 2026 02:27At the end of another round of talks that concluded on Wednesday between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington, the US State Department said in a joint statement that, as a result of the US led negotiations, the two countries had agreed on the implementation of a ceasefire.The ceasefire, the statement read, was conditional on a complete halt to Hezbollah fire, and the evacuation of all its operatives from the area south of the Litani.It was further stated that the two sides had agreed to establishing "pilot zones" in which the Lebanese army will have exclusive control over the area, with no presence of any non-state actor.These steps, the State Department announced, would "enable progress toward a comprehensive agreement for peace and security.”Israeli soldiers operate at Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, in this handout image released on May 31, 2026. (credit: Israeli Military/Handout via REUTERS)Lebanese, Israeli delegations meet for negotiationsDelegations from both Lebanon and Israel had met at the US State Department on Tuesday to begin a scheduled two-day resumption of negotiations.During the talks on Tuesday, senior members of the Israeli delegation said that Hezbollah did not stop fighting, despite promising US President Donald Trump to do so on Monday.Members of the Israeli delegation also said that Hezbollah publicly rejected the equation of a ceasefire in southern Lebanon in exchange for a ceasefire in northern Israel.This is a developing story.Danya Saperstein and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.Follow us on Google