Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday agreed to renew a ceasefire and continue negotiations for a broader peace agreement amid tensions in West Asia, the two countries said in a joint statement issued with the United States.The agreement is contingent upon a “complete cessation of fire” by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Leiter said.The militant group is not part of the Lebanese government and is not a participant in the negotiations.After Washington and Tel Aviv attacked Iran on February 28 and killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched an attack on Israel in retaliation on March 2.While a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on April 17, attacks had continued, which strained the agreement.The joint statement on Wednesday came after US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had an “expletive-laden” phone call on Monday after Tel Aviv announced plans to expand its military operation in Lebanon, Axios reported.Tehran has warned that it would suspend its dialogue with the US if the Israeli military operation in Lebanon continued.The statement issued on Wednesday said that the countries have agreed to establish “pilot zones” in which the Lebanese Armed Forces would take “exclusive control” of the territory, excluding all non-state actors.The statement came after the fourth round of high-level talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives on Tuesday and Wednesday.The measures were intended to advance progress towards a “comprehensive peace and security agreement”, the statement said.Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed that they had no hostile intent towards each other and agreed to continue direct negotiations aimed at resolving outstanding problems.The statement said the future relationship between the two countries should be determined by their governments and “rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage”.It also outlined discussions on a security framework aimed at ensuring the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of both countries, including the dismantling of non-state armed groups and preventing their re-emergence.The US reiterated its support for Beirut and Tel Aviv, and said that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached directly between Israel and Lebanon with mediation from Washington.“Lebanon committed to enhancing the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, with US support, to assert effective control throughout the country,” the statement added.Lebanon also reaffirmed the need for respect for internationally recognised borders.The countries have agreed to reconvene during the week of June 22 with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.Hostilities continueHowever, hostilities continued on Wednesday, AFP reported.The Israeli military said that it had intercepted a “hostile aircraft” and two projectiles launched from Lebanon, the news agency reported.Hezbollah said that it had targeted Israeli soldiers in northern Israel with rockets, “in response to the Israeli enemy army’s violation of the ceasefire”.Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least nine persons in southern Lebanon, including two paramedics whose ambulance was hit.Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Nachiket Deuskar.