The cease-fire removes a major obstacle to U.S.-Iran peace talks. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia Israeli forces are targeting in Lebanon, did not say whether it would accept the truce.

The discussion would have been the first direct conversation between the leaders of the two countries in more than 30 years.

A 10-day truce appeared to be mostly intact in Lebanon early Friday, promising a pause in fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and possibly clearing one major obstacle to a deal between Iran and the United States and Israel to end weeks of devastating war.

A 10-day ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed on by Lebanon and Israel went into effect as Friday began. The agreement could boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran,

U.S. ⁠President Donald Trump ⁠on Thursday said that ​Israeli and Lebanese leaders had agreed ‌to begin a 10-day ‌ceasefire at 5 ⁠p.m. (2100 ⁠GMT), though he did not specify which ​day it would begin.

The militant group Hezbollah said that any truce must apply 'across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.'

Israel agreed Thursday to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, a truce that could pause fighting with the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war.

The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect at midnight local time (5 p.m. ET). There were no initial reports of continuing hostilities after midnight. The cease-fire began after [intense