Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire holds amid violations; US-Iran talks delayed, Strait of Hormuz reopens

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, brokered by US and Qatari mediators, after deadly exchanges strained a deal to end the wider Middle East war less than two days after it was signed. Lebanon reported 47 people killed and 97 wounded in Israeli strikes that day, while Israel’s military said it hit over 80 Hezbollah targets and killed dozens of fighters. Despite the truce, Lebanese state media said an Israeli airstrike hit the Jezzine region in the south, and earlier Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said Israeli forces would stay in Lebanon ‘as long as necessary’ and make Hezbollah pay a ‘heavy price’. The planned US‑Iran talks in Switzerland, meant to build on the deal and address outstanding issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme, were postponed with no new date set. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, which had been closed during the conflict, reopened; 25 commercial vessels crossed on Thursday, the highest number since mid‑April, according to AXSMarine data. American forces lifted their parallel naval blockade of Iranian ports, though warships will remain in the area. For Nigeria, a major oil exporter, any flare‑up in the Gulf can shift global crude prices and affect fuel costs at home; the reopening of the shipping lane may ease price pressures, but the fragile ceasefire means markets remain watchful.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/19/israel-hezbollah-agree-ceasefire-as-us-iran-deal-under-strain/