Hezbollah refuses to join truce between Lebanese and Israeli governments

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Hezbollah has rejected a ceasefire plan agreed by Lebanon and Israel. The deal is dependent on the Iran-backed group agreeing to a cessation of fire and withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon. But its leader, Naim Qassem, pledged to keep fighting as long as Israeli troops continued their “occupation”. Israel has pushed deep into southern Lebanon in recent days, displacing 1.2m people and crossing the Litani river, an important symbolic threshold. The offensive is aimed at protecting residents of northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks, but there are fears Israel permanently intends to occupy parts of the country. Continued fighting could derail talks between the US and Iran, which wants Lebanon included in any peace deal.