Israel, Lebanon agree to conditional ceasefire

AI Summary

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a conditional ceasefire dependent on a full halt of hostilities by the Iran-backed Hezbollah. The agreement includes pilot zones controlled exclusively by Lebanese armed forces to exclude non-state actors, formalized after US-mediated talks in Washington.

Israel and Lebanon agreed Wednesday to implement a ceasefire but said it would require a "complete cessation" of fire by Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to a joint statement after US-led talks in Washington. The two sides, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, also agreed to create "pilot zones" in which the Lebanese armed forces "will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors".