People displaced by war are returning to their villages in southern Lebanon.Image: AP
April 17, 2026, 2:16 p.mApril 17, 2026, 2:16 p.m
After weeks of fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two warring parties on Truth Social on Thursday evening. What we know in 5 points.
What does the agreement include?
The ceasefire began at midnight (local time, 11:00 p.m. CEST) and is expected to last at least ten days. Trump announced the ceasefire after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The Lebanese state is not directly involved in the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah was not involved in the talks.
According to the US Department of State, the agreement includes the following additional points:
- The 10-day ceasefire may be extended by mutual agreement between Lebanon and Israel, provided negotiations make progress and the Lebanese state demonstrates the ability to assert its sovereignty.
- Israel may at any time take all necessary measures to defend itself against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.
- The Lebanese government must take substantial steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups within its territory from carrying out attacks against Israeli targets.
- All parties recognize the Lebanese Security Forces as the sole responsible for Lebanon’s sovereignty and national defense.
- Israel and Lebanon are asking the United States to help with further talks aimed at resolving all outstanding issues, including the border between the two countries.
Can be happy: Donald Trump brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.Image: keystone
How do the actors comment on this?
The leaders of Israel and Lebanon welcome the ceasefire. Benjamin Netanyahu described this as an opportunity for a historic peace agreement. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam hopes for the possible return of the displaced people to their homes, as the BBC writes.
Hezbollah is initially leaving it open whether it will adhere to the ceasefire. Any ceasefire must apply comprehensively to the entire Lebanese territory and must not allow any troop movements by Israel, demands the Iranian-backed militia.
According to the BBC, Netanyahu rejects both of Hezbollah’s demands. Despite the ceasefire, Israel wants to continue to maintain its ten-kilometer-wide buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
Was this expected?
Talks between Israel and Lebanon took place in Washington at the beginning of the week. According to a BBC article Many in Israel appear to have been surprised by the ceasefire. An Israeli newspaper also revealed that Netanyahu only informed members of the security cabinet about this shortly before the ceasefire came into force. There is said to have been no vote.
Benjamin Netanyahu wants to stay in Lebanon with Israel’s buffer zone.Image: sda
What does the ceasefire mean for the Iran war?
When the ceasefire in the Iran war was declared, there were initially different opinions as to whether it also applied to the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Pakistan and Iran saw these as included, but the USA and Israel did not, which meant that the fighting continued.
The ceasefire that has now been agreed gives the USA breathing room to continue peace talks with Iran, the most important supporter of the Hezbollah militia. According to Donald Trump, there could be a second round of talks between the USA and Iran as early as this weekend.
What’s next?
How long the ceasefire will last is still unclear. According to Lebanese information, Israel is said to have violated the ceasefire just a few hours after it came into force. According to the allegations, the Israeli army repeatedly shelled several villages in the south of the country. The Lebanese government again called on the population not to return to southern villages and towns for the time being. Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, fired numerous rockets at places in northern Israel shortly before the ceasefire came into force.
Despite government warnings, thousands of Lebanese are returning to the south of the country.Image: EPA
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 2,100 people have been killed in fighting since the beginning of March. According to the information, these include 260 women and 172 children, writes BBC. The Israeli army recently reported more than 1,700 Hezbollah members killed in the same period. The exact number of civilians killed is unclear. Hundreds of thousands of people had to flee the war in southern Lebanon. The BBC also writes of 13 Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah attacks. (with material from Keystone-SDA)