Published April 16, 2026 — A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect Thursday evening following US-mediated negotiations, pausing cross-border fighting and creating a potential opening for broader talks. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement, saying he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The truce was set to start at 21:00 UTC (midnight locally). Trump said the arrangement would cover Hezbollah and suggested it was linked to wider understandings between Washington and Tehran, adding that an agreement on nuclear and related issues was “close.”
Israeli forces reported strikes on rocket launchers used by Lebanon-based Hezbollah shortly before the truce began, while Israeli rescue services said one person in northern Israel was seriously wounded by shelling less than two hours before the ceasefire. AFP journalists and footage from AFPTV recorded gunfire in Beirut’s southern suburbs as the pause took hold.
The US State Department said Lebanon had committed to take “meaningful steps” to stop Hezbollah from conducting attacks or hostile operations against Israeli targets, acknowledging the difficulty of curbing non-state armed groups that challenge Lebanon’s sovereignty and regional stability.
Netanyahu described the pause as an opportunity to pursue a “historic peace agreement” with Lebanon but insisted Hezbollah’s disarmament would be required. He also said Israel would keep a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) security zone along the southern border. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the ceasefire “a pivotal Lebanese demand” pursued since the start of the conflict. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the deal, stressing support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the need for substantial humanitarian assistance.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah voiced caution, saying the group’s compliance would depend on whether Israel actually halted hostilities during the truce and noting the group had been briefed by Iran’s ambassador. Iran’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the ceasefire, saying the halt in Lebanon was part of understandings between Tehran and Washington, in talks that Pakistan helped facilitate. Islamabad has been pressing for renewed US‑Iran negotiations after a recent round in Pakistan’s capital produced no breakthrough; Pakistan’s army chief also met Iran’s parliament speaker this week as part of those efforts.
Trump told reporters he believed Iran had agreed to surrender its enriched-uranium stockpile and suggested a statement limiting Iran’s nuclear activities for at least 20 years might be possible. He said another US-Iran meeting could occur over the weekend and that he might travel to Islamabad if an agreement were signed there.
The truce comes amid a broader regional crisis, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and US measures affecting Iranian ports and trade. The fighting has had large humanitarian and economic consequences across the region, from job losses in Iran to interrupted trade routes that affect exporters in countries such as India.
Separately, London police arrested three people in connection with an attempted arson attack on the offices of a Persian-language broadcaster. Counter Terrorism Policing London is investigating; authorities say the incident may be linked to other recent arson attacks, though each case is being treated on its own facts.
As the 10-day pause began, its durability was uncertain. Officials and analysts said the ceasefire could create room for negotiations and the delivery of humanitarian aid, but its success will hinge on whether state and non-state actors—including Hezbollah—adhere to the terms and whether parallel diplomacy can convert the temporary halt into a longer-term settlement.