Ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon comes into effect
A 10‑day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect as of midnight local time on Friday, 17 April 2026 (21:00 GMT on Thursday), temporarily halting cross‑border fighting between Israel and the Iran‑backed Hezbollah group in southern Lebanon.
What the truce covers
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The pause is intended to create a narrow window for diplomatic talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing the deal and inviting both Israeli and Lebanese leaders to Washington for “substantive discussions” on a broader peace arrangement.
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Current reports indicate that Israel will continue to maintain a security zone extending about 10 km into southern Lebanon, while stressing its right to retaliate against any “imminent or ongoing attacks.”
Humanitarian and security context
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The ceasefire follows roughly six weeks of intense cross‑border strikes and Israeli bombardment across parts of Lebanon, which have caused heavy civilian casualties and widespread displacement.
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Lebanese authorities have welcomed the truce as a key step toward stabilizing the border, though the situation remains fragile and Hezbollah’s explicit, detailed commitment to the 10‑day halt has not been fully clarified publicly.
