A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time Friday, following weeks of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. The agreement emerged from the first direct diplomatic talks between the two nations in decades, held Tuesday in Washington, facilitated by the United States. This pause aims to pave the way for broader negotiations towards a lasting regional peace, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated.
Despite the formal start of the truce, reports of continued shelling emerged from southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s state-run National News agency reported Israeli shelling in the villages of Khiam and Dibbine, occurring approximately 30 minutes after the ceasefire commenced. The Lebanese Army reiterated its warning to displaced residents from southern Lebanon, advising against immediate returns home due to intermittent artillery fire.
Israel’s military, when contacted by The Associated Press very early Friday, indicated it was investigating these reports of shelling and fire in the region. The terms of the ceasefire, as provided by the U.S. State Department, prohibit Israel from offensive military actions in Lebanon, though they allow for self-defense against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.
In Beirut, the ceasefire announcement was met with barrages of gunshots and the boom of rocket-propelled grenade launches, as residents fired into the air to celebrate the beginning of the truce. Tracer rounds illuminated the night sky. Despite official warnings, displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, eager to check on homes and belongings.
More than 1 million Lebanese people have been displaced during the six-week conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, according to the AP. This rush to return home, a pattern observed in previous ceasefires, often clogs roads and creates further risks. Ambassador Danny Danon told U.N. reporters Thursday that the 10-day ceasefire would be “challenging” due to Hezbollah’s stance.
The militant group stated after the ceasefire announcement that continuing Israeli occupation grants Lebanon the right to resist. Danon affirmed Israel’s belief in direct negotiations with Lebanon but acknowledged the complexity for the Lebanese government given Hezbollah’s influence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to travel to Washington for negotiations, Danon said. “We will come to any meeting to promote peace,” he added, noting the pressure and threats faced by the Lebanese government from Iran.
Hezbollah has called on people to exercise restraint and avoid returning to areas heavily hit by Israeli strikes “until the situation becomes fully clear,” a message echoed by the Lebanese army. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump made several assertions regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran, claiming significant progress.
Speaking to reporters before departing for an event in Las Vegas on Thursday, Trump stated he felt “pretty positive” about the Iran war, suggesting it “should be ending pretty soon.” He described the war as “perfect,” praising the U.S. military’s power. Strip away the noise and the story is simpler than it looks: these claims lack independent verification. The White House did not respond to follow-up queries about whether Iran had agreed to surrender its enriched uranium, under what terms, or to whom.
Trump has made claims about Iran’s nuclear program in the past that proved imprecise, something worth remembering. A key assertion from President Trump centered on what he termed “nuclear dust.” He claimed Iran had agreed “to give us back the nuclear dust that’s way underground because of the attack we made with the B-2 bombers.” This term, adopted by Trump, refers to approximately 970 pounds of enriched uranium buried under Iranian nuclear sites damaged by U.S. strikes last year. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes and does not aim to develop weapons.
Neither Iran nor the countries acting as intermediaries in the conflict have corroborated what would constitute a major breakthrough, leaving Trump's claims unconfirmed. Pressed on what was delaying further progress, Trump described the situation as “very complicated” but insisted, “I don’t think we’re waiting. I think we’re moving very fast.
It could happen pretty quickly.”
The economic toll of the Iran war extends beyond regional stability. President Trump downplayed the average national gas price of $4.09 a gallon. He suggested the cost was not high when weighed against the risk of even higher prices if Iran were allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. “Well, they’re not very high, if you look at what they were supposed to be in order to get rid of a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters.
Gas prices have risen approximately 29% from a year ago, according to AAA. Here is the number that matters: American households are paying more at the pump, a direct consequence of escalating regional tensions. The market is telling you something.
Listen. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, speaking for the Islamic Republic, welcomed and supported diplomatic efforts to achieve a “sustainable end to this unlawful and unwarranted war.” He cited mediation efforts by Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia. Iravani expressed deep mistrust of the United States, citing “repeated betrayal of diplomacy,” but affirmed Iran’s willingness to enter negotiations “in good faith” and remain “cautiously optimistic.” He suggested that a “rational and constructive approach” from the United States, free from demands inconsistent with international law, could lead to a meaningful outcome.
Iravani’s remarks came during a U.N. General Assembly meeting supporting Beijing and Moscow’s vetoes of a Security Council resolution aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil ships, has become another point of concern.
Ambassador Fu Cong stated that the strait “should be safeguarded” for international navigation and urged Iran to take “proactive measures” to open the waterway. Fu claimed that the issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was a “spillover effect of the conflict in Iran,” asserting that “only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation.” This highlights the interconnectedness of regional conflicts, where a military confrontation in one area can quickly impact global trade routes and energy markets. The ceasefire, which began Thursday at midnight Beirut time, could be extended if progress occurs in talks aimed at a lasting peace agreement and if Lebanon “effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty,” the State Department said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he agreed to the 10-day ceasefire, saying the step was an attempt “to advance” peace efforts. However, Netanyahu also stated Israeli troops would remain in an expanded security zone in south Lebanon, a 10-kilometer deep zone described as “much stronger, more extensive and more continuous than before.” This position directly conflicts with Hezbollah’s stance that Israeli occupation grants the right to resist, potentially complicating the truce’s longevity. Local leaders in northern Israel expressed criticism of the ceasefire proposal, warning it could leave communities vulnerable.
Moshe Davidovich, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, stated that agreements might be signed in Washington, but “the price is paid here in blood, in destroyed homes and shattered communities.” He warned a ceasefire without strict enforcement against Hezbollah and a buffer zone up to the Litani River, some 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border, would amount to “waiting for the next massacre.” Eitan Davidi, head of the Margaliot moshav, called the move “a surrender” and “a political defeat,” telling the N12 news site it was made without coordination with northern communities. These comments underscore the deep-seated security concerns that persist despite diplomatic efforts. Why It Matters: This ceasefire, if it holds, offers a temporary reprieve for civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border and a crucial window for diplomatic engagement.
For the broader Middle East, the intertwined conflicts involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran carry significant implications for regional stability and global energy markets. The ability of the United States to mediate effectively, alongside the willingness of all parties to adhere to agreed terms, will determine whether this moment leads to a lasting peace or merely a pause before renewed hostilities. The displacement of over a million people in Lebanon alone underscores the human cost of the conflict, making any diplomatic progress a welcome, if fragile, development.
Key Takeaways: - A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the U.S., began Friday after weeks of conflict involving Hezbollah. strikes, a claim unverified by other parties. - The truce faces immediate challenges from reported shelling in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s rejection of Israeli occupation. - Gas prices in the U.S. are up 29% from a year ago, reflecting the economic impact of regional instability. Looking ahead, the primary focus will be on whether the 10-day ceasefire holds and if it can be extended beyond April 22. President Trump suggested he would extend the deadline if a deal were close.
The White House is also working to arrange a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lebanese President Aoun within the next week or two. Furthermore, all eyes will be on any concrete developments regarding Trump’s claims about Iran’s enriched uranium, as the lack of confirmation from Tehran or mediating countries remains a significant point of ambiguity. The true test for the region will be the transition from a temporary halt in fighting to substantive negotiations that address the underlying security and political issues driving these long-standing conflicts.
Key Takeaways
— - A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by the U.S., began Friday after weeks of conflict involving Hezbollah.
— - President Trump claimed Iran agreed to return “nuclear dust” following U.S. strikes, a claim unverified by other parties.
— - The truce faces immediate challenges from reported shelling in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah’s rejection of Israeli occupation.
— - Gas prices in the U.S. are up 29% from a year ago, reflecting the economic impact of regional instability.
Source: AP News