Israel orders halt to operations in Southern Lebanon.

Updated: 5:16 PM PKT — June 21, 2026

The ceasefire order was issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz following a situation assessment and was reportedly coordinated with the United States. However, Israeli officials have clarified that the directive does not include a withdrawal from so-called “security zones” in Southern Lebanon. The Israeli military will retain full freedom to counter threats and will respond harshly to any violations by Hezbollah, with one official stating that operations will continue freely within the “Yellow Line.”

This development came as Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli attacks in the Nabatieh district on Saturday killed 16 people and injured 12. According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Israeli airstrikes targeted more than a dozen locations in Southern Lebanon from midnight into Saturday morning.