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According to a report by Reuters on Thursday June 4, 2026, a ceasefire framework announced by Washington has run into immediate resistance after Hezbollah rejected the proposal outright, while Israeli forces continued carrying out airstrikes across southern Lebanon.
The plan, unveiled following US-mediated discussions between Lebanese and Israeli officials, was presented as a pathway toward reducing hostilities that have persisted for months. However, Hezbollah, one of the central actors in the conflict, was not involved in the negotiations and has made clear it does not accept the terms.
In a strongly worded statement, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem dismissed the agreement and accused its architects of attempting to impose conditions harmful to Lebanon and its people. He argued that any arrangement which ignores what he described as ongoing Israeli occupation could not bring genuine peace.
One direct message from Hezbollah remained unmistakable: “As long as the occupation exists, the resistance will continue.”
The rejection casts fresh doubt over the viability of the ceasefire proposal, which had been cautiously welcomed by some international observers as a possible opening for broader regional de-escalation.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in early March after the Lebanese group launched attacks in support of Iran during the wider confrontation involving Tehran, Washington and Tel Aviv. Since then, several ceasefire initiatives have been announced, yet none has succeeded in ending the violence for long.
The conflict has increasingly become intertwined with wider diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted that any lasting settlement involving Tehran must also address Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s leadership argues that no ceasefire can be considered acceptable if Israeli troops remain in parts of southern Lebanon. The group has pointed to Israel’s self-declared security zone near the border, insisting that the safety of northern Israeli communities cannot be separated from conditions faced by residents of southern Lebanon.
Iran’s Quds Force commander echoed that position, saying the minimum requirement for any resolution would be a full Israeli withdrawal to positions held before the current phase of the war began.
On the ground, however, there was little indication that military activity was slowing. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said operations would continue for now, emphasizing that Israeli forces would keep targeting what the government describes as Hezbollah infrastructure and military assets.
Israeli aircraft carried out multiple strikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to local security sources. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that at least five people were killed in attacks on the town of Sohmor, while residents in Beirut reported hearing drones overhead throughout the day.
Katz also reiterated that Israel intends to maintain its presence in the security zone it has established in southern Lebanon, including around the strategically significant Beaufort Castle area captured by Israeli forces in recent days. He added that Israel would retain the ability to strike targets in Beirut if attacks against Israeli territory continue.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the Washington-backed initiative as perhaps the best remaining opportunity to secure a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. Before Hezbollah publicly rejected the proposal, Aoun had expressed hope that an agreement could take effect quickly if all relevant parties gave their approval.
According to details released by the US State Department, the framework requires Hezbollah to halt military activity and remove its fighters from the area stretching between the Israeli border and the Litani River. The proposal notably does not include a commitment for Israeli troops to leave southern Lebanon.
Another key element involves the creation of pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces would exercise exclusive authority, excluding all armed groups. Lebanese officials view these areas as potential models for restoring state control across larger sections of the south.
Yet the proposal faces serious obstacles. Hezbollah has long resisted calls for disarmament, while political tensions within Lebanon have grown as President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam continue advocating for the state’s sole control over weapons and security matters.
The ceasefire initiative has also sparked criticism inside Israel. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir condemned the arrangement, arguing that Hezbollah would never fully comply and questioning whether the Lebanese military could enforce its terms. At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from critics who accuse him of allowing Washington too much influence over Israeli decision-making.
Beyond the political wrangling, the human cost of the conflict continues to mount. Lebanese authorities estimate that roughly 1.2 million people have been displaced since the fighting intensified, including hundreds of thousands forced from their homes in southern Lebanon.
Adding to the grim toll, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon confirmed that one of its peacekeepers died from injuries sustained after mortar rounds struck a position near Marjayoun overnight.
