Washington, June 19 (SANA)A senior U.S. official said on Friday that Israel andHezbollahhad agreed to a ceasefire that took effect at 4 p.m. local time.

Reuters quoted the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying that the two sides had reached an agreement following mediation by theUnited Statesand Qatar, with assistance from Iran.

“We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah entered into a ceasefire,” the official said.

Earlier on Friday, 24 people were killed and 39 others injured, according to a preliminary toll, in intensive Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in eastern and southern Lebanon.

The strikes came despite the implementation of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war and establishing an immediate and permanent ceasefire across all fronts, includingLebanon.F.J./M.Z.