Ten-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire may be extended by mutual agreement, US says

April 16 (Reuters) - Israel and Lebanon will implement a 10-day ceasefire beginning 5 pm EST (2100 GMT) on Thursday to enable negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement, the U.S. State Department said, adding that the ceasefire period may be extended by mutual agreement.

Once the ceasefire takes effect, the Lebanese government will take steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups in its territory from carrying out any attacks, operations, or hostile activities against Israel, the U.S. State Department said in a statement whose text Washington said was agreed to by Israel and Lebanon.

"All parties recognize Lebanon's security forces as having exclusive responsibility for Lebanon's sovereignty and national defense; no other country or group has claim to be the guarantor of Lebanon's sovereignty," the statement reads.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Christian Martinez and Caitlin Webber)