Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire cautiously holds
- Input
- 2026-06-23 11:12:09
- Updated
- 2026-06-23 11:12:09
[Financial News] The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian armed group in Lebanon, is cautiously holding.
On the 23rd (local time), AP reported, citing an official from the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in southern Lebanon, that the ceasefire was still in effect.
UNIFIL spokesperson Tilak Pokharel said that neither Israel nor Hezbollah had fired any projectiles since the previous day, and no airstrikes had been observed.
An AP photojournalist covering Nabatieh in Lebanon said that calm has continued since the weekend, unlike the intense fighting and airstrikes seen over the past several days.
The journalist added that some residents of heavily damaged Nabatieh had begun returning home.
Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, stressed that Israel would continue to observe the ceasefire as long as Hezbollah did not violate the agreement.
Sa'ar said Israel had no intention of occupying Lebanese territory, and instead would maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon.
On X, Sa'ar wrote that Israel would not withdraw from the security zone, which could expose Israeli citizens to attacks, including Hezbollah incursions.
He added that eliminating Hezbollah's terrorist posture would benefit both Lebanon and Israel.
On the 21st, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, also said that Israeli troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as possible for the safety of Israeli citizens.
Speaking at the Jerusalem News Syndicate International Policy Summit, he said Israel is fighting Hezbollah, not Lebanon, and added that if the group disarms or is dismantled, Israel would welcome peace with Lebanon.
Netanyahu said Israel destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities through its military operation against Iran and "effectively crushed Iran's axis of terror."
He added that Israel's position has not changed despite the U.S.-Iran MOU, and said that as long as he remains prime minister, "Iran will not possess nuclear weapons."
jjyoon@fnnews.com Reporter Yoon Jae-joon Reporter