Israel and Hezbollah Agree to Cease-Fire After Renewed Fighting Threatens to Derail U.S.-Iran Peace Talks

The White House on Thursday night said Vice President J.D. Vance would not be travelling to Europe to lead the U.S. delegation as “the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized.”

“The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable, we look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said.

Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported that Iran’s delegation postponed their travel to Switzerland due to the hostilities in Lebanon.

The latest exchange of strikes between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group killed at least 18 people in Lebanon, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the intensified fighting as a “dangerous escalation.” 

Four Israeli soldiers were ​killed by Hezbollah ​militants. “Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for these attacks,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following the overnight exchange.