{"id":1790,"date":"2026-06-19T16:34:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1790"},"modified":"2026-06-19T16:34:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:34:53","slug":"israel-and-hezbollah-agree-to-halt-fighting-as-talks-between-the-us-and-iran-hang-in-the-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1790","title":{"rendered":"Israel and Hezbollah agree to halt fighting as talks between the US and Iran hang in the balance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By ERIN CUNNINGHAM, JON GAMBRELL and AAMER MADHANI<\/strong><\/p>\n

JERUSALEM (AP) \u2014 Israel and the Hezbollah militant group agreed Friday to stop attacking each other, officials said, after talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off because of intense fighting in southern Lebanon that deepened doubts about the initial agreement to\u00a0end the war in Iran.<\/p>

Read more Friction between Trump and Republican senators is growing before the pivotal midterm elections<\/a><\/p>\n

The apparent truce emerged after a heavy exchange of fire killed at least 47 people in southern Lebanon and four Israeli soldiers.<\/p>\n

Word of the attempt to halt the fighting came from two regional officials and a U.S. official. It was mediated by Qatar, the U.S. and Iran, the regional officials said. The three officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n

A Hezbollah official said an agreement to stop fighting could be announced soon, but he stopped short of confirming it was in place. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.<\/p>\n

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s office did not immediately comment. However, late Friday afternoon Netanyahu posted on X that, on his orders, the army had \u201cstruck powerfully\u201d 150 Hezbollah targets, killing dozens of militants.<\/p>\n

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the military has not received different instructions from the government. He said Israeli forces were operating in a \u201cforward defense zone\u201d and will continue doing so.<\/p>\n

Hours after officials told journalists about the truce, Israeli artillery fire could still be heard from northern Israel along the Lebanese border, and a large explosion was seen erupting inside Lebanon, according to an AP photographer in northern Israel.<\/p>

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  • \n
    \"Buildings<\/figure>\n
    Buildings damaged by Israeli strikes are seen through shattered glass from the Jabal Amel Hospital in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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    \"Smoke<\/figure>\n
    Smoke rises to the sky in an area near Beaufort Castle following an Israeli military strike in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Leo Correa)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li>
  • \n
    \"Smokes<\/figure>\n
    Smokes rise to the sky following an Israeli military strike in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Leo Correa)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li>
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    \"A<\/figure>\n
    A girl looks toward what residents said was an Israeli drone flying overhead as a boy checks his family\u2019s water storage tank in Halta, southern Lebanon, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li>
  • \n
    \"Smoke<\/figure>\n
    Smoke rises to the sky in an area near Beaufort Castle following an Israeli military strike in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo\/Leo Correa)\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/div><\/div><\/ul>