Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire, US official confirms

BBC update

ISRAEL and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior US official confirms to the BBC.

The pause in fighting was due to begin at 16:00 local time (14:00 BST) on Friday, the official says.

It comes after at least 18 people were killed in southern Lebanon following a series of Israeli air strikes overnight, according to the country's health ministry. Israel's military says four of its soldiers were also killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also earlier said it had struck 80 targets linked to the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, killing "dozens" of its members.

Earlier this week, the US and Iran signed a deal to end the war in Iran, which included a call for an end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.