Israel and Lebanon agree to implement ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire following weeks of US-led negotiations, potentially drawing a period of intense conflict to a close.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Israel and Lebanon said they had agreed to a cessation of hostilities.

“The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hizbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbollah operatives from the south Litani sector,” said the statement, which was published by the US state department.

It added that the two sides will “swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones” in which the Lebanese army will take control of the territory “to the exclusion of all non-state actors”.

“These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the statement said.

Washington has been trying to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah for weeks as part of a broader effort to strike a long-term deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has repeatedly tied maintaining a ceasefire with the US agreed in early April to a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.

This is a developing story.