West Asia war LIVE updates: Israel, Hezbollah agree ceasefire as US-Iran deal under strain

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Talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off on June 19 after intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon

Updated - June 20, 2026 09:03 am IST

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel on June 19, 2026.

| Photo Credit:

AP

Lebanese authorities on Friday (June 19, 2026) reported 47 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, and Israel announced the deaths of four of its soldiers, the highest combined casualty count since the US and Iran struck their deal.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire on Friday, a U.S. official said, after deadly exchanges between the two sides in Lebanon once again put a deal to end the West Asia war under strain, less than two days after it was signed.

Also read: Israeli Minister says ‘all of Lebanon must burn’ after four soldiers killed

Talks between the U.S. and Iran were called off on Friday (June 19, 2026) after intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, officials said, raising questions about an initial agreement to end the war in Iran. Israel and the militant group later agreed to a ceasefire, three officials said.

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June 20, 2026 09:00

Lebanon says 47 killed in strikes, Israel reports deaths of 4 soldiers

Fighting flared anew in Lebanon on Friday, with authorities reporting 47 killed in Israeli airstrikes and Israel announcing the deaths of four of its soldiers.

The violence is the worst since the sealing of a U.S.-Iran deal to halt the wider West Asia war, which was also supposed to pause fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported a fresh Israeli strike on the area of Jezzine in the south, soon after a US official said on Friday that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed on a ceasefire.

An NNA journalist also reported drones flying over the Tyre area, while an AFP correspondent heard artillery shelling in the southern town of Nabatieh.

The U.S. official told AFP on condition of anonymity that the truce was brokered by U.S. and Qatari mediators, following talks with Israel and Iran.

-AFP

June 20, 2026 08:36

Israel and Hezbollah agree on Lebanon ceasefire: U.S. official

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed on a ceasefire, a U.S. official said on Friday (June 19, 2026), after deadly new exchanges in Lebanon put the fragile deal to end the West Asia war under immediate strain.

Israel and Hezbollah agree on Lebanon ceasefire: U.S. official

Israel and Hezbollah reach a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon amid rising tensions and criticisms from the Trump administration.

June 20, 2026 08:30

U.S.-Iran peace talks postponed, clouding prospects for lasting truce

Switzerland said U.S. talks with Iranian negotiators on a pact to end the war in West Asia would not take place on Friday (June 19, 2026), while Vice President JD Vance dropped plans to travel there, fuelling uncertainty whether a lasting truce ‌can be found.

U.S.-Iran talks planned for June 19 are off: Switzerland

U.S.-Iran talks scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland are canceled after Vice-President J.D. Vance withdraws from the trip.

Published - June 20, 2026 08:23 am IST