Israel and Lebanon have reached a new agreement aimed at strengthening their fragile ceasefire, with plans to establish a number of pilot security zones inside Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives would not be permitted to operate, according to an announcement from the US State Department.

In a joint statement, the parties said the arrangement is dependent on a “complete cessation” of attacks by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, along with several other conditions intended to reduce tensions and improve security along the border.

The statement also emphasized a shared commitment by the three countries to reject “any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage,” highlighting ongoing diplomatic efforts to support stability in the region.

The announcement was made in Washington on Wednesday following a day of violence in which Israeli strikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel.

Despite the new diplomatic breakthrough, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli strikes continued in southern Lebanon on Thursday, with at least one attack resulting in casualties.

Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim militia, political party and social movement, remains the most influential armed group in Lebanon. Backed by Iran, it has developed military capabilities that surpass those of the Lebanese army and has engaged in multiple conflicts with Israel over the years. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and several other countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

The latest agreement, reached after a fourth round of talks mediated by the United States, requires the withdrawal of all Hezbollah operatives from the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the frontier. The area is currently occupied by Israeli ground forces.

Under the arrangement, the United States will assist in guiding the creation of pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces will exercise exclusive authority and control, preventing the presence of non-state armed groups.

While the agreement outlines the framework for these zones, it does not include maps identifying their exact locations, nor does it provide detailed explanations of how they will function operationally.

The deal follows a partial ceasefire announced on Monday. Lebanese officials said that arrangement would see Israel refrain from carrying out strikes on the capital, Beirut, while Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israeli territory.

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet again on 22 June for further negotiations, with the goal of advancing toward a broader and more comprehensive agreement that could contribute to a more durable peace.

Lebanon became directly involved in the wider conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran on 2 March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel subsequently responded with an extensive air campaign across Lebanon and launched a ground operation in the country’s south.

Earlier efforts to halt the fighting, including a US-brokered ceasefire reached on 16 April, were unable to bring a lasting end to hostilities. More recently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to intensify operations against Hezbollah and expand its advance into southern Lebanon following drone and rocket attacks on communities in northern Israel.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 3,516 people have been killed in the country since the conflict began. The ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been rescheduled for July 24 after the original gathering was suspended following a shooting incident involving a gunman who attempted to gain access to the venue.

In a letter to members, Weijia Jiang said the event will now take place with significantly enhanced security measures and revised access procedures.

The dinner is set to be held at the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC, and Donald Trump has confirmed that he plans to attend.

The original event, scheduled for April 25, was interrupted after an armed suspect allegedly attempted to breach security, prompting an exchange of gunfire with members of the United States Secret Service. During the incident, Trump, Vice-President JD Vance and other senior officials were escorted from the stage by security personnel.

According to the United States Department of Justice, the suspect was subdued at the scene. One Secret Service agent was injured by shotgun fire during the confrontation.

Trump welcomed the decision to reschedule the event, describing it as a demonstration of resilience.

“This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling,” he wrote on social media.

The White House Correspondents’ Association said it has spent recent weeks raising funds to ensure members who purchased tickets for the April event will not be required to pay again for the July gathering. Organisers described the rescheduled dinner as a more intimate event than originally planned.

The association is also offering financial assistance to scholarship recipients who wish to return to Washington to attend the event.

Trump said he has accepted an invitation to address attendees at the rescheduled dinner and joked that he may reconsider remarks he had planned to deliver in April.

The annual dinner traditionally brings together the president, senior government officials, members of Congress, journalists and media executives to celebrate journalism and press freedom.

Authorities later identified the suspect in the April incident as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who police said was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives when he approached the security checkpoint.

Following the shooting, Trump said he intended to work with organisers to ensure the event was rescheduled as quickly as possible. The new July date will now allow the long-running Washington tradition to proceed under heightened security arrangements.

An 18-year-old student from Southampton, Henry Nowak, was handcuffed by police after being fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed at the scene that he had been the victim of a racist attack.

Digwa was later convicted of Henry’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years before he can be considered for parole.

Henry’s parents have said they hold Digwa solely responsible for their son’s death. However, they have also expressed deep concern over the way Henry was treated by police officers after the attack, describing his treatment as inhumane and degrading.

The case has prompted further scrutiny following the release of bodycam footage showing Henry being handcuffed despite suffering serious injuries and repeatedly telling officers that he could not breathe.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has since apologised to Henry’s family for the distress caused by the incident.

The force confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which will examine the actions of officers at the scene and determine whether any misconduct occurred.

The investigation will focus on police decision-making during the incident and whether appropriate procedures were followed while responding to the stabbing.