Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared a U.S.-mediated cease‑fire with Israel, set to kick in within 24 hours, but Hezbollah rejected the pact, insisting that any deal must begin with Israel withdrawing all forces from Lebanese soil . the standoff has reignited missile fire toward northern Israel and raised fears of a broader escalation.

Hezbollah’s demand for full Israeli withdrawal

Hezbollah,described as an Iran‑backed terrorist organization, told reporters that a cease‑fire is meaningless unless Israel pulls every soldier out of Lebanon. the group’s statement, cited by Israeli and Hezbollah sources, emphasizes a “complete Israeli withdrawal” as a pre‑condition, echoing Tehran’s broader stance that no U.S.–Iran cease‑fire can occur while Israeli troops remain in Lebanese territory.

President Joseph Aoun’s 24‑hour ceasefire deadline

President Joseph Aoun announced on Thursday that his government had secured a cease‑fire agreement, the “last chance” for both sides to reach a comprehensive halt to hostilities, according to the source. The pact,guaranteed by the United States, was to become effective within 24 hours and would create pilot zones overseen by the Lebanese armed forces, aiming to satisfy Israeli security concerns without annexing Lebanese land.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s refusal to pull troops

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly rejected any Israeli troop withdrawal, stating that Israel would continue dismantling “terrorist infrastructure” in Lebanon. Katz’s position, as reported by Israeli officials, aligns with Israel’s acceptance of the cease‑fire only if Hezbollah ceases fire immediately, a condition that was quickly violated when missiles struck northern Israel.

UNIFIL casualties rise as fighting intensifies

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that seven peacekeepers have been killed since the March 2 ,2026 escalation, including Serbian Sgt. Milovan Jovanivic, who died from Israeli mortar fire. The UN Secretary‑General condemned the killing and urged all parties to respect Lebanese sovereignty and withdraw foreign troops, according to the UN statement.

Who will enforce the pilot zones?

While Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the Lebanese army would deploy to the pilot zones as outlined in the first phase, it remains unclear how the zones will be policed if Hezbollah continues attacks and Israel refuses to withdraw. Neither side has detailed a verification mechanism, leaving a critical gap in enforcement.