A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time Thursday, though Lebanese forces reported Israeli violations within hours of the truce beginning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the temporary halt to hostilities earlier Thursday, saying he agreed to the ceasefire to advance peace negotiations that began this week in Washington. The announcement followed mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations at the State Department, though Hezbollah was not represented in those discussions.
I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two leaders have agreed that in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5 P.M. EST.
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
Netanyahu rejected key Hezbollah demands, including a full Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israeli forces will remain in what he termed an "expanded security belt" stretching up to 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory, from the Mediterranean coast to the Syrian border.
Hezbollah demanded that we withdraw to the international lines and adopt the principle of calm for calm. I did not agree to either of these demands.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister — Video statement
The Lebanese army reported Israeli "acts of aggression" early Friday, including intermittent shelling of several southern Lebanese villages. The army warned citizens against returning to southern towns and villages. Israeli military officials had not immediately responded to the violation allegations.
Fighting continued until the ceasefire's implementation. Israel struck 380 Hezbollah targets in the 24 hours before the truce, while the militant group launched several attacks on northern Israeli positions, wounding three people including two seriously.
Netanyahu framed the negotiations as an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Lebanon, contingent on Hezbollah's disarmament. He claimed Trump had assured him of continued efforts to destroy Iran's remaining military capabilities, which Netanyahu argued would improve prospects for a lasting deal.
I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be (a) GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and urged all parties to respect the truce fully. The temporary halt comes after Israel's offensive on Lebanon since March 2 killed 2,196 people and displaced over one million, according to official figures.
The ceasefire's durability remains uncertain given the early violation reports and fundamental disagreements over Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon.
France 24 frames the ceasefire as a diplomatic breakthrough facilitated by US mediation, emphasizing the structured negotiation process and international involvement. Their coverage highlights the technical aspects of the truce while noting early violation concerns, reflecting France's traditional role as a mediator in Lebanese affairs and its interest in regional stability.
Anadolu Agency emphasizes Israeli non-compliance with international demands and Netanyahu's rejection of Hezbollah conditions, framing Israel as the inflexible party. Their coverage highlights casualty figures and displacement statistics, reflecting Turkey's increasingly critical stance toward Israeli military actions and its support for Palestinian and Lebanese sovereignty.
El País focuses on the practical implementation challenges and early violation reports, presenting the ceasefire as fragile from the outset. Their framing emphasizes the contradictions between ceasefire rhetoric and continued military positioning, reflecting Spain's balanced approach to Middle Eastern conflicts while noting European concerns about regional stability.
Indian coverage frames the ceasefire within the broader context of Trump's regional diplomacy and Iran tensions, emphasizing America's central mediating role while highlighting the incomplete nature of the agreement with Israel's refusal to withdraw forces. This perspective reflects India's balanced approach to Middle East relations, where it maintains ties with both Israel and Arab nations while avoiding taking sides in regional conflicts that could affect its energy security and diaspora interests.
Saudi coverage emphasizes the limitations of the ceasefire by prominently featuring Israel's refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon, framing this as a fundamental flaw that undermines the agreement's credibility. This angle reflects Saudi Arabia's strategic interest in portraying Israeli actions as destabilizing to regional security, particularly as the kingdom seeks to position itself as a responsible regional power while managing its complex relationship with both Israeli normalization prospects and Iranian rivalry.