BEIRUT — Hezbollah has agreed to a reciprocal cessation of hostilities with Israel, a senior Lebanese official confirmed on Sunday, marking the most significant step toward de-escalation since the outbreak of cross-border violence in October. The decision, announced after days of intense diplomatic mediation by French and Qatari envoys, stipulates that both sides will suspend attacks against military and civilian targets, effective from midnight local time.
A Lebanese government source said the understanding is conditional on Israel halting its aerial bombardments and ground operations in southern Lebanon. In return, Hezbollah will cease rocket fire and drone incursions into Israeli territory. The arrangement does not amount to a formal ceasefire but is described as a "mutual pause" aimed at creating space for broader negotiations.
Israeli officials have neither confirmed nor denied the agreement. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said Israel "reserves the right to respond to any threat" and that its operations would continue until security is restored to northern communities. However, Israeli media reported a reduction in air force sorties over Lebanon since Saturday evening.
The development follows weeks of diplomatic pressure on Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the UK and US, to decouple its actions from the Gaza war. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously insisted that attacks on Israel would cease only when the offensive in Gaza ended. But with the humanitarian crisis deepening and Lebanon's economy in ruins, political factions have urged restraint.
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the understanding but acknowledged its fragility. "This is a window, not a solution," he said in a televised address. "Our priority is to protect Lebanese sovereignty and prevent our country from being dragged into a wider war."
UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, confirmed it had received assurances from both sides regarding the halt. Its spokesperson said UNIFIL would step up patrols along the Blue Line to monitor compliance.
The cessation, if sustained, represents a rare diplomatic success in a region racked by conflict. Since October, more than 200 people have been killed in Lebanon, including combatants and civilians, while tens of thousands have been displaced on both sides of the border. The agreed pause could ease fears of a full-scale war that many analysts warned would be catastrophic.
But scepticism remains high. Previous understandings between Hezbollah and Israel have collapsed within days. The Israeli military's Northern Command has not changed its readiness level, and reservists remain mobilised. Hezbollah's media outlets continued to broadcast anti-Israeli rhetoric even as the halt was announced.
The coming 48 hours will be critical. Western diplomats are urging both parties to use the pause to negotiate a more permanent arrangement, including the disarming of militant groups in southern Lebanon. But given the entrenched positions and ongoing Gaza crisis, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain.
