Israel and Lebanon Agree to 10-Day Ceasefire

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is set to begin at 10 o’clock tonight (Irish time), opening a narrow but potentially significant window for talks on a permanent security and peace agreement, the US State Department said. It added that both sides could extend the truce by mutual agreement.

Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon has become a central stumbling block in efforts to secure the broader peace deal sought by US President Donald Trump to end the war on Iran, which he launched with Israel in late February. The conflict has rattled global energy markets, driven oil prices higher and raised fears of wider economic damage.

Pakistan had previously said that calm in Lebanon was vital to the talks it is mediating to end the war between the United States and Iran.

Under the ceasefire text released by the US State Department, the Lebanese government will move to stop Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups on its territory from carrying out attacks against Israel once the truce comes into force.

Israel, for its part, retains the right to take necessary self-defence measures against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks during the ceasefire period, but agreed not to conduct offensive military operations in Lebanon over the 10 days.

Aftermath of an Israeli strike on a moving vehicle in southern Lebanon

According to the agreement, both countries have asked the United States to facilitate further direct negotiations aimed at settling all unresolved issues, including the demarcation of the international land boundary.

“Israel and Lebanon affirm that the two countries are not at war and commit to engaging in good-faith direct negotiations, facilitated by the United States, with the objective of achieving a comprehensive agreement that ensures lasting security, stability, and peace between the two countries,” the text released by the US State Department said.

Mr Trump announced the ceasefire on his Truth Social platform, saying he had excellent conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Netanyahu said the ceasefire could open the door to a “historic peace agreement” with Beirut, while insisting that Hezbollah must first be disarmed.

“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said in a televised speech.

“This opportunity exists because… we have fundamentally changed the balance of power in Lebanon,” he added, pointing to Israel’s military gains against Hezbollah since the war erupted in October 2023.

“This balance has shifted to such an extent that in the past month we have begun receiving calls from Lebanon to hold direct peace talks – something that had not happened for over 40 years,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel had accepted the 10-day truce but would keep a 10km “security zone” along the border in southern Lebanon.

He said Israel’s two conditions remained Hezbollah’s disarmament and a lasting peace agreement “based on strength”.

Mr Netanyahu also said he had rejected Hezbollah’s two demands: a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a ceasefire built on the principle of “quiet in return for quiet”.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he “welcomes” President Trump’s announcement of a 10-day ceasefire with Israel.

Mr Salam said he welcomed the truce, describing it as “a key Lebanese demand that we have pursued since the very first day of the war” between Hezbollah and Israel, after Mr Trump announced the temporary pause following calls with the presidents of the two countries.

“As I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I pray for mercy upon the martyrs who have fallen, and I affirm my solidarity with their families,” Mr Salam said, while also thanking several European and Arab states for their “efforts” to secure a ceasefire.

Israel kept up strikes in southern Lebanon today

Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah said the group had been told by Iran’s ambassador ‌to Lebanon that a one-week ceasefire ⁠could begin this evening.

Asked whether Hezbollah would observe the truce, Mr Fadlallah said everything depended on Israel halting all forms of hostilities, and he credited Iran’s diplomatic efforts with helping bring about the possible ceasefire.

Another Hezbollah lawmaker, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, said the Lebanese group would abide by a ceasefire if Israeli attacks on its fighters stopped.

“We in Hezbollah will cautiously adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that it is a comprehensive halt to hostilities against us and that Israel not use it to carry out any assassinations,” he said.

“We express thanks to Iran for having applied pressure in Lebanon’s favour,” he said, adding that “the ceasefire would not have happened without Iran considering the ceasefire as equal to closing the Strait of Hormuz”.

Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire

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The US-Israeli war with Iran spilled into Lebanon ⁠on 2 March, when Iran-backed Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran, triggering an Israeli ‌offensive in Lebanon just 15 months after the last major conflict.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have ⁠killed more ‌than 2,100 people in Lebanon since 2 March and driven more than 1.2 million from their homes.

Israel says Hezbollah attacks have killed two Israeli civilians, while 13 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since 2 March.

An ⁠Israeli security official said the military had no intention of withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon ⁠during any ceasefire.

‘Meaningful talks’

In another social media post, Mr Trump said he would invite Mr Netanyahu and Mr Aoun to the White House for “meaningful talks” between the two countries, which have remained officially at war since Israel was established in 1948.

Earlier, a senior Lebanese security official said an Israeli strike had cut the last bridge connecting southern Lebanon with the rest of the country.

The state news agency said one person was killed in an Israeli strike on a car on the road linking the area to Syria.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on either strike.

Global stock markets have rallied sharply in recent days on hopes that the fighting could end quickly, with equities surging beyond their previous record highs in trading.

Oil prices, however, moved higher, underscoring lingering doubts over the ceasefire’s durability and the opening of the strait.

Ceasefire welcomed by Von der Leyen and McEntee

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ⁠welcomed the announcement of the 10-day ceasefire and repeated Europe’s call for Lebanon’s territorial integrity to be respected.

“I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by ‌President Trump. This is a relief, ⁠as this conflict has ‌already claimed far too many lives,” ‌Ms von der Leyen wrote on X.

“Europe will continue to call for the ⁠full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and ⁠territorial integrity. And we will keep supporting the Lebanese people through substantial humanitarian aid,” she added.

I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump.

This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives.

Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace.

Europe will continue to call for…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 16, 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said: “I welcome the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, following the first high-level dialogue between both countries in over 30 years.

“I commend the efforts of all those who worked to make this possible.”

Analysis: Lebanon ceasefire agreement significant on number of fronts