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Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 9:31 PM EDT
/ CBS News
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The Israeli and Lebanese governments have agreed to renew a ceasefire, both sides said Wednesday, after weeks of deadly fighting between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon had imperiled broader negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to end their conflict.The U.S.-brokered deal is contingent on Hezbollah cutting off attacks and evacuating from a swath of southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement issued by the Israeli, Lebanese and American governments. Hezbollah is backed by Iran and has significant influence within Lebanon, especially among its Shiite community, and the Lebanese state has long struggled to exert control over the U.S.-recognized terrorist group or get it to give up its arms.The agreement also proposes setting up "pilot zones" where the Lebanese military could take control "to the exclusion of all non-state actors."Tuesday's ceasefire came after two days of talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington. The joint statement said Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold a further round of talks in about three weeks, " with a view toward reaching a comprehensive agreement." "All countries reaffirmed that the future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be decided by the two sovereign governments," the statement read. "They rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon's future hostage."Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire for months, with Hezbollah launching rockets at northern Israel while Israeli forces take control of large parts of southern Lebanon. The two countries struck a ceasefire in mid-April, but fighting continued. President Trump said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to cut back fighting on Monday, but a day later, the two sides traded fire.
