10-day ceasefire between Israel, Lebanon takes effect

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A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time on Friday, April 17, 2026, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump. The truce, which began at 2100 GMT Thursday, was widely reported by multiple international outlets, including Al Jazeera, France 24, and Deutsche Welle.

Coverage Comparison

The ceasefire was first announced by President Trump on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, with reports indicating he had held "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said the two leaders agreed to the ceasefire, which he framed as a step toward a lasting peace, with plans to invite both to the White House for talks.

Celebratory gunfire was heard in Beirut's southern suburbs as the truce began, according to multiple reports, including from Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle. However, tensions remained high, with the Lebanese army reporting what it described as Israeli violations, including shelling of southern villages, within hours of the ceasefire taking effect. The Israeli military has yet to comment on those specific claims.

Key Claims

• Ceasefire terms: The US State Department released a document outlining the terms, which state that Israel "shall preserve its right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks," while also specifying that Israel will not carry out offensive military operations against Lebanese targets. The document also mentions that the Government of Lebanon will take steps to prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from attacking Israel.

• Ceasefire duration and extension: The initial 10-day period may be extended by mutual agreement if progress is demonstrated in negotiations, according to the State Department text reported by TASS and The Guardian.

• Israeli military staying: The Israeli military has said its forces will remain in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire, as reported by Reuters and cited by Deutsche Welle. An Israeli security official confirmed to Reuters that "Israel has no plans to withdraw its military from southern Lebanon during the announced 10 day ceasefire."

• Casualty figures: Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,100 people and displaced over 1.2 million since early March, as reported by Al Jazeera, Dawn, and The Guardian. Israel says Hezbollah attacks have killed two Israeli civilians and 13 soldiers since March 2.

• Hezbollah's stance: Hezbollah has not officially confirmed whether it will recognize the ceasefire, but a lawmaker told AFP that the group would respect it if Israel stopped its attacks. The group also released a statement describing its military operations on Thursday, with its last attack at 11:50 pm local time, ten minutes before the truce began.

Perspectives

The ceasefire has been met with cautious optimism and skepticism from various quarters.

US and Israeli officials: President Trump expressed hope that Hezbollah "acts nicely and well" during the truce, while Prime Minister Netanyahu said the ceasefire offers an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" but insisted on the disarmament of Hezbollah. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that Israel intends to maintain control over territory up to the Litani River, as reported by The Intercept.

Lebanese officials: Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told ABC that the ceasefire is not holding because the US has effectively given Israel free rein to launch strikes "whenever they deem necessary." He also said the Lebanese government only learned of a key concession in the agreement after it was announced by President Trump.

International community: UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and urged all actors to respect it, while French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern that the truce may already be undermined by ongoing military operations, calling for Hezbollah to lay down its arms and Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty.

Media and analysts: Some outlets, such as The Intercept, have questioned the viability of the ceasefire, drawing parallels to past agreements that failed to end Israeli operations in Gaza. An analyst quoted by Al Jazeera noted that gaps remain between US and Iran, with both sides preparing for either a negotiated deal or a return to war.

As the ceasefire enters its first hours, the situation on the ground remains extremely volatile, with displacements continuing and the fate of the truce uncertain.