April 9, 2026 — A fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran appeared to be fraying on Thursday as Israel carried out heavy strikes across Lebanon and Tehran warned it could resume hostilities. The violence has deepened regional tensions, prompted international alarm and left hundreds dead and wounded.
Massive strikes in Beirut and across Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday hit commercial and residential districts in central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. Lebanese officials said the death toll from the raids had climbed to 203, with more than 1,000 wounded. The strikes — the deadliest in recent weeks — triggered a national day of mourning and widespread displacement. Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine described the casualties as “martyrs” and called attention to the scale of civilian suffering.
Israel says it was striking Hezbollah
Israeli leaders said the attacks targeted Hezbollah positions and personnel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking the Iran-backed group “wherever necessary” to protect Israeli civilians and restore security in northern Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also announced it had “eliminated” Ali Yusuf Harshi, described as a close associate and adviser to Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem; Lebanese security sources had reported an attack on a flat where Harshi was said to be staying, though Hezbollah had not immediately confirmed his death. Qassem succeeded Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah leader in October 2024 after Nasrallah was killed in a 2024 Israeli strike.
Hezbollah and Iran respond
Hezbollah said it launched rockets at Israel in response to what it called a violation of the ceasefire, reporting strikes toward areas such as the kibbutz of Manara in northern Israel. Iran, which had earlier agreed a ceasefire with the US and Israel, has insisted the truce should apply to Lebanon and accused Israel of breaching the deal. US and Israeli officials, however, have maintained that operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon were not part of the agreement, a discrepancy that diplomats say risks undermining the ceasefire.
UN, analysts and regional governments alarmed
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that ongoing Israeli military activity in Lebanon posed a “grave risk” to the ceasefire and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Analysts and think tanks cautioned that the apparent misinterpretation or exclusion of Lebanon from the ceasefire placed the truce “on the verge of collapse.” European and international leaders urged restraint and called for the ceasefire to be extended to include Lebanon to prevent wider escalation.
Iran signals potential wider action and maritime threats
In Tehran, state media and officials signaled that Iran might return to hostilities if terms are not honored. The country also published maps suggesting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had placed sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict and proposed alternative routes for commercial shipping closer to Iran’s coast, including passages near Larak Island. It remained unclear whether any mines had been cleared or whether Tehran was permitting transit; the US called any shutdown of the strait “completely unacceptable.”
Diplomacy and international moves
Diplomatic activity continued amid the violence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the UAE and held talks aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping; London’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, urged that Lebanon be included in any extension of the truce. Spain announced plans to reopen its embassy in Tehran, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares saying Madrid wanted to support peace and accusing Israel of violating international law with its strikes in Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia and Iran held their first foreign ministerial telephone call since the war began, discussing ways to slow tensions and restore regional stability. An Iranian delegation was due in Islamabad for talks with US interlocutors based on a 10-point proposal from Tehran, while Pakistan’s government continues to play a mediating role.
US posture and economic threats
US President Donald Trump wrote that US troops and forces in the region would remain deployed until a “real agreement” was reached and threatened stronger strikes if the deal unraveled. He also warned of 50% tariffs on any country supplying weapons to Iran, though the legal basis and likely implementation of such measures were unclear.
Civilian toll and humanitarian concerns
The strikes in Lebanon prompted condemnation over civilian casualties and fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. UN officials and rights observers highlighted the “horrific” scale of killing and displacement. The Soufan Center and other analysts noted that even if Lebanon had not been formally covered by the ceasefire, the scale of Israeli strikes would be seen as escalatory and could widen the conflict by driving a wedge between Iran and its regional proxies.
Other regional and commercial impacts
Air France extended suspensions of flights to destinations in the Middle East until May 3 citing security risks; other carriers, including Lufthansa, had also canceled services as the conflict disrupted commercial air travel. The economic and logistical effects of intermittent closures or threats to the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns about global shipping and trapped seafarers.
Domestic developments in Iran
In Tehran, crowds marked the end of the 40-day mourning period for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a February strike. State television broadcast footage of mourning crowds; a prayer service was planned though it was unclear who would lead it. Mojtaba Khamenei, elected as the new supreme leader, had not yet appeared publicly since his elevation.
Outlook
With both sides asserting different understandings of the truce and continuing military activity in Lebanon, diplomats warned the ceasefire remained fragile. Continued strikes, retaliatory rocket fire, and competing diplomatic narratives could quickly erode the pause and risk a broader regional confrontation unless agreement terms are clarified and parties refrain from escalatory actions.