Five ceasefires, no Israeli announcement: confusion, mediation, and Iranian delay tactics

Israelis again learned on Friday, through foreign intermediaries, that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had taken effect. The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in writing that Israel would “exact a heavy price” from the Shiite terror group, following an overnight incident in which four fighters were killed in southern Lebanon. Minutes after the ceasefire notice, reports said strikes hit several areas in southern Lebanon, while sirens in the Western Galilee warned of a suspected drone incursion.

No senior Israeli official spoke publicly when the U.S. announced the ceasefire. Israeli messaging came only through unnamed “senior official” briefings to the press. That official said there was “no novelty in the ceasefire,” arguing it lets the IDF keep destroying infrastructure and act against emerging threats. He said Israel’s ambassador in Washington had already made that clear, adding, “Hezbollah attacked and got hit, and ran to ask for the renewal of the ceasefire.” Netanyahu also avoided a direct statement, instead posting footage of strikes in southern Lebanon and writing on X that, “as I instructed, the IDF struck 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon with force and eliminated dozens of terrorists.”

The article says this is the fifth time a foreign actor has declared a ceasefire without an official Israeli announcement, creating an image of Israeli dependence. It adds that ceasefires in Lebanon have repeatedly failed because the battlefield situation is illogical, with the IDF deployed by two divisions up to and even north of the Litani River, while Hezbollah remains trapped and continues attacking Israeli forces. After the deadly overnight incident, Israel escalated by striking the Bekaa Valley, but avoided hitting Beirut because that was believed to trigger an immediate Iranian strike.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the region was entering “the most dangerous phase in our lives in Lebanon,” claiming the plan against Hezbollah aims to end the resistance and erase its presence. He said the Israeli campaign ignores all rules, but insisted the attempt to eliminate Hezbollah and entrench occupation had failed and that Israelis would withdraw “from every last inch” of Lebanese land. Hezbollah MP Iehab Hammad said the state cannot restrain Israel, accused Israel of undermining calm, and said Iran is determined to strike northern Israel in response, with the “unity of arenas” being decisive. Separately, a White House source told AP that Iranian officials hesitated to begin talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Switzerland because of the Israeli operation in Lebanon. Iran’s foreign ministry later said its understanding with the United States to end the war was signed digitally, making the Swiss meeting on Friday less urgent. Iran’s military said all options remain open, while President Donald Trump mocked Tehran, saying, “We didn’t meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are finished!”