WASHINGTON — The Israel Defense Forces refused Friday to withdraw from southern Lebanon after securing a new cease-fire with Hezbollah amid pressure from the US and Iran.

Citing overnight terror attacks that killed four soldiers, IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israel will keep forces in Lebanon as a security precaution to prevent Hezbollah violations of the truce.

“Recent events have made one thing clear: IDF soldiers must stand between Hezbollah and Israeli civilians,” Defrin said in a statement. “We will not wait for the next attack to reach our homes.”

“We will continue to remove immediate threats, respond to Hezbollah’s violations, and do whatever is necessary to protect our civilians,” he added.

Lebanon, meanwhile, claimed 47 people were killed and more than 97 others wounded in Israeli strikes on 80 targets that the IDF claimed were tied to Hezbollah.

Renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had threatened to foil peace talks involving the US and Iran after an initial round of discussions set to take place Friday in Switzerland were postponed.

Iran had claimed it would not participate in any talks with the US until the Israeli operations ceased. 

The Beiruit government has struggled to push back Hezbollah on its own, and world leaders have called for the strengthening of the Lebanese Armed Forces to support that aim.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday, during which he emphasized that “bilateral negotiations with Israel represent the only feasible path to reconstruction, economic recovery, and ending recurrent cycles of violence,” according to a State Department statement.

“Secretary Rubio reiterated the need to disarm Hizballah and to re-establish control over all Lebanese territory. They also discussed the need to coordinate with regional allies to advance these aims,” the statement said.

Rubio was expected to also speak with Israeli officials Friday, and will host another round of Lebanon-Israel peace talks June 23–25 in Washington.

The first pillar of the 14-point memorandum of understanding [MOU] between the US and Iran called for “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.” The proposal also stipulated that broader peace talks would ensure that the war ends on “all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

Iran had also threatened to take “all necessary measures” against Israel in response to the retaliatory attacks in Lebanon. 

Trump has publicly bashed ally Israel for its aggressive retaliation against Hezbollah and has had stern talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the matter.

Initially, the ceremonial in-person signing of the MOU was expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday, followed by an initial round of talks to establish a more fleshed-out peace plan. 

Vice President JD Vance’s office then announced that he would not be traveling to Switzerland on Thursday evening, despite initial plans to do so.