A fragile pause in fighting has been reached between Israel and Lebanon after the United States announced a short-term ceasefire aimed at stopping weeks of intense cross-border clashes that have caused heavy loss of life, widespread destruction in Lebanon, and rising regional tensions involving armed groups and foreign powers.
The announcement was made by US President Donald Trump, who said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day halt in fighting starting at 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT; midnight local time) on 16 April. The statement did not mention Hezbollah directly, despite its central role in the ongoing exchanges along the border.
In a later post on Truth Social, Trump urged restraint, saying, "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time."
He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had been invited to Washington for further talks expected to build on the temporary agreement.
Terms of the truce
The agreement provides for a 10-day suspension of hostilities, with the possibility of extension if both sides agree and negotiations show progress.
According to the US State Department, Israel retains its “right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks”. Lebanon is required to take “meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah and other “rogue non-state armed groups” from launching attacks against Israel.
The deal also states that Lebanon’s security forces hold exclusive responsibility for national security. Both sides have requested continued US involvement to facilitate talks aimed at “resolving all remaining issues”. The ceasefire is described as a “gesture of goodwill” by Israel meant to support “good-faith negotiations towards a permanent security and peace agreement”.
Reactions from key players
Israel and Lebanon have both expressed cautious support for the truce. Netanyahu described it as an “opportunity to make a historic peace agreement”.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the pause could allow displaced families to return home after weeks of fighting and displacement.
Hezbollah signaled conditional acceptance of the ceasefire but insisted it must include “a comprehensive halt to attacks” across Lebanon and “no freedom of movement for Israeli forces”.
Iran’s foreign ministry also welcomed the agreement, with spokesperson Esmail Baghaei expressing solidarity with Lebanon. Tehran had previously pushed for broader linkage between its understandings with the United States and the Lebanon situation, but both Israel and Washington rejected that approach.
The UN Secretary General António Guterres welcomed the agreement and praised US mediation, urging all parties to “fully respect” and “comply with international law at all times”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the ceasefire a “relief” and reaffirmed calls for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the truce should be used to “step back from the violence” and create space for talks toward “a more lasting peace”.
Israeli position in southern Lebanon
Despite the ceasefire, Netanyahu said Israeli forces will continue holding a 10km-deep “security zone” in southern Lebanon.
He stated, “We are there, and we are not leaving.”
He added that the buffer zone is needed to “block the danger of invasion”. Israeli troops re-entered southern Lebanon after renewed clashes with Hezbollah escalated in early March, establishing positions they say are necessary for border security.
Even under previous ceasefire arrangements, cross-border strikes had continued regularly, raising doubts about long-term stability.
How the agreement was reached
The ceasefire followed rare direct talks in Washington earlier in the week between Israeli and Lebanese representatives aimed at reducing violence that has included air strikes on Beirut and heavy fighting in southern Lebanon.
Trump said the deal came after “excellent conversations” with both sides, though he did not confirm whether Hezbollah was involved in the talks.
Netanyahu welcomed the truce but said Israel had made limited concessions on the ground. He also said Hezbollah had demanded two conditions: withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and a principle of “quiet for quiet”.
Reports suggest the announcement surprised parts of Israel’s leadership, with claims that a security cabinet meeting was called shortly before the announcement and that ministers were not given a vote.
Wider regional conflict involving Iran
The ceasefire comes amid broader regional tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. Israel launched strikes on Lebanon after attacks attributed to Hezbollah, which followed earlier exchanges involving Iranian-linked forces.
Since March, Israel and Hezbollah have continued trading fire despite repeated calls from Lebanon’s leadership for restraint.
The conflict has caused major destruction in Lebanon, with more than 2,100 people killed and about 7,000 injured since 2 March, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The figures include civilians, children, health workers, and widespread damage to hospitals and infrastructure.
In Israel, authorities say Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians and 13 soldiers over the same period.
On Thursday, the Israeli military destroyed the last bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, further isolating the region and raising concerns about long-term military presence and restricted movement in the south.