Israel and Hezbollah clashed overnight despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement that both sides had agreed to halt fighting ahead of US-hosted talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to open “new fronts” and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed over Israel’s offensive in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, this week’s negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, who have no diplomatic relations, in Washington are the fourth round since April, which Hezbollah strongly opposes.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that “negotiation is safer than war… and we have no other option” to stop the fighting, considering his country to be facing “fierce Israeli aggression” from Israel, which has expanded its operations against Hezbollah.

The Israeli army is currently conducting its deepest military incursion into Lebanon since 2000, when it withdrew after 18 years of occupation. Israel announced on Monday that it would bomb the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, triggering a mass exodus from the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the threats by citing Hezbollah’s “repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon” and attacks against Israel.

A report by US news outlet Axios on Monday said Trump called him “f*cking crazy” and accused him of putting Iran peace talks at risk.

“There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump said on his Truth Social network after a “very productive” call with Netanyahu.

“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” he added.

Lebanon also confirmed Hezbollah’s acceptance of the American proposal for a “mutual cessation of hostilities.”

Hezbollah claimed multiple attacks on Israeli targets, mainly in south Lebanon, including after Trump’s announcement. Hezbollah also claimed a rocket attack on an Israeli tank early Tuesday in Hadatha, in southern Lebanon, saying on Telegram it was fighting “the advance of Israeli forces”.

The Israeli military, for its part, said it intercepted two projectiles from Lebanon, without any casualties on Tuesday.

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2 by firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of Iran’s supreme leader, and Tehran has demanded that Lebanon be included in any peace deal with Washington.

The death toll in Lebanon has reached 3,433 since the start of the war, while more than one million people have been displaced, according to authorities. The number of Israeli soldiers killed stands at 27. (AFP)