The Jewish state killed up to 18 people overnight, according to Beirut though no official ceasefire confirmation has been given by either the IDF or Hezbollah

Published 19 Jun, 2026 13:45 | Updated 19 Jun, 2026 16:14

RT composite. © RT

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire starting on Friday, Reuters has claimed, citing an unnamed US official and “two Hezbollah officials.” However, no official confirmation has been made by either the Israel Defense Forces or the militant group as of yet.

According to the US official who spoke to Reuters, negotiators for the US and Qatar worked out the deal with help from Iran. “We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire,” he added.

The American-Iranian memo of understanding signed earlier this week states that the war should be terminated on all fronts, including in Lebanon. However, Israel has continued its strikes on its neighbor, killing at least 18 people only Friday night, the country’s health ministry said earlier.

 

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Earlier today, Lebanese Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told Reuters that Iran had informed the group that talks with Washington could not continue without the implementation of a comprehensive ceasefire.

He also called on the Lebanese government to reject any direct negotiations with Israel while Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.

Hezbollah not only functions as a militant group, it is also as a political party and social welfare provider; however, it is at odds with the Lebanese government. In March, Lebanon’s government took the unprecedented step of banning Hezbollah’s military and security activity.

The group is represented in both the government and parliament. The move came hours after it announced it had launched rockets and drones towards Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat sources, the Shiite political alliance is now divided over how to deal with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government, which took the decision. While one faction, described as hardline, favors changing the government, another believes current political conditions make such a move unrealistic because of parliamentary arithmetic: priority should instead be given to securing an Israeli withdrawal and rebuilding devastated towns.

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19 June 2026

20:27 GMT

The recently signed US-Iran MOU corresponds to the terms that Tehran has been insisting on since the early days of the war, Iranian-American Lego cartoonist Mahdi Hemmat (aka PersiaBoi) has told RT.

“Iran didn’t enter this deal out of desperation,” said the cartoonist, some of whose Lego animations went viral online on the frontlines of the US-Iran meme war.

“They absorbed heavy pressure, responded strategically with asymmetric tactics, they kept the resistance axis alive and they demonstrated real control over the Strait of Hormuz.”

 

20:03 GMT

US and Israeli interests are not always aligned, US Vice President J.D. Vance has said.

“People will say that America’s interests are always aligned with Israel’s interests. It’s just not true,” he said in an interview with American conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey.

“I think is that American leaders have to be very careful that when we pursue something, we’re doing it for America’s best interest and not for any other country’s best interest.”

 

19:53 GMT

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has to be kept a little bit “sane,” US President Donald Trump has told Axios in an interview.

He said that his relationship with Netanyahu was “good,” but stressed that “we have to keep him a little bit… sane.”

Trump also claimed that he could keep Israel from attacking Lebanon.

“They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say.”

19:42 GMT

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei “has a certain braveness,” US President Donald Trump has told Axios.

“I killed the Ayatollah,” he said, referring to the February 28 assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“And I sadly hurt the other Ayatollah, who’s… I did not meet him, I did not speak to him, but… he’s got a certain braveness,” Trump said, adding that the Iranian leader was “badly injured” during the war.

 

 

19:30 GMT

 

READ MORE: Trump claims there are ‘no limits’ on his power

US President Donald Trump said he made a phone call to Israel earlier on Friday and asked them to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, NBC News has reported.

In a phone interview with the outlet, Trump declined to confirm that he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, but said he has “always been good with Bibi.”

“You just gotta calm down sometimes and use your head,” NBC News’ White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez cited the president as saying.

19:17 GMT

Israeli forces have targeted three towns in southern Lebanon with artillery fire, Lebanese state news agency NNA has reported.

19:07 GMT

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, has confirmed the ceasefire in Lebanon, while also stressing that West Jerusalem aims to wipe out Hezbollah.

“Israel remains firmly committed to an immediate ceasefire,” he wrote on X. “At 11:30 this morning, Israel halted all offensive operations; Hezbollah and Iranian claims to the contrary are bold lies.”

 

 

18:57 GMT

Israeli forces have demolished multiple houses in the town of Kounin in southern Lebanon, Lebanese state news agency NNA has reported.

18:52 GMT

Norway plans to ban trade with Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has said in a statement.

The proposed bill, which ​is expected to pass ​in Norway’s parliament, includes a ban on importing ‌and ⁠exporting goods from Israeli settlements in Palestine.

The country recognized Palestinian statehood in ​2024.

18:30 GMT

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has stressed the need to stop Israel’s aggression against his country during a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A comprehensive ceasefire would be “a fundamental pillar” for upcoming US-Israeli-Lebanon negotiations in Washington next week, Aoun said, according to the readout of the call published by the Lebanese presidency.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, February 16, 2026. © Getty Images / Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu

 

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