{"text":[[{"start":8,"text":"Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a US-brokered ceasefire, as Washington seeks to stop fighting between the Iranian-backed militant organisation Hizbollah and Israeli forces in southern Lebanon."}],[{"start":20.55,"text":"In a joint statement with the US on Wednesday, Israel and Lebanon said they had agreed to a cessation of hostilities contingent on Hizbollah withdrawing its fighters from South Lebanon and halting its attacks on Israel."}],[{"start":33.25,"text":"“The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hizbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbollah operatives from the south Litani sector,” said the statement, which was published by the US State Department."}],[{"start":45.8,"text":"It is unclear whether the agreement will halt fighting in Lebanon. A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon in April had earlier failed to stop fighting. "}],[{"start":55.05,"text":"Israel has been battling with Hizbollah, which has yet to publicly comment on the announcement. The group, which is backed by Iran, was not represented in Washington. "}],[{"start":64.1,"text":"Israel invaded Lebanon in March after Hizbollah launched rockets into Israel following its attack on Iran in February alongside the US. "}],[{"start":73.89999999999999,"text":"The state department said the agreement would enable progress towards “a comprehensive peace and security agreement” between Israel and Lebanon, who do not share diplomatic relations."}],[{"start":83.55,"text":"It added the two sides would move towards creating “pilot zones” controlled by the Lebanese military and from which Hizbollah would be prohibited. It was not immediately clear how such a provision would be enforced. "}],[{"start":95.25,"text":"Washington has been trying to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah for weeks as part of a broader effort to strike a long-term deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and formalise a ceasefire that was agreed in early April. "}],[{"start":109,"text":"Tehran has repeatedly tied maintaining a ceasefire with the US agreed in early April to a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. Iranian media reported on Monday that Tehran was suspending negotiations with Washington due to Israeli operations inside Lebanon. "}],[{"start":126,"text":"Trump said on Monday that Israel and Hizbollah had agreed to limit their fighting in Lebanon after having spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and communicating with the Iranian-backed militant group. "}],[{"start":137.65,"text":"He wrote on social media that Netanyahu had agreed that Israeli forces “going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back”. He added that Hizbollah had agreed not to continue its attacks on Israel."}],[{"start":151.70000000000002,"text":"The Lebanese embassy in Washington, in a statement posted on Monday, said Hizbollah had agreed to a “mutual cession of attacks”. It added that Israel would not strike Hizbollah strongholds in southern Beirut."}],[{"start":164.05,"text":"There were further exchanges of fire between Hizbollah and Israel on Wednesday. Israeli strikes killed at least nine people and Hizbollah fired projectiles into northern Israel. "}],[{"start":175.05,"text":"There have been at least 3,516 people killed and more than 1mn displaced in Lebanon since the country was drawn into the broader conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States. "}],[{"start":188.10000000000002,"text":"Israel, which has had 26 soldiers killed on operations inside Lebanon, has issued sweeping evacuation orders for wide swaths of southern Lebanon as it seeks to dislodge Hizbollah. "}],[{"start":205.55000000000004,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780535641_6597.mp3"}