Israel's leadership, represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, ordered the armed forces to halt strikes on Lebanese territory. This was reported by Israeli channel N12, citing its own sources. According to the channel, the decision came as a result of consultations with representatives of the United States of America.
Despite the halt in airstrikes, Israeli authorities emphasized that IDF soldiers are maintaining their positions along the "yellow line" on the southern borders of Lebanon and will not withdraw.
Background to the conflict and the ceasefire
Earlier, on June 19, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and the Lebanese organization Hezbollah. However, already on the night of June 20, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire terms. In response, Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes on dozens of targets associated with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Reactions from Iran and the US
Following Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Iranian authorities announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the US Army Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement asserting that ship movements through the strait continue in normal mode, refuting Iranian claims of its closure.