Israel and Lebanon agree ceasefire

The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon officially went into effect on Thursday evening following mediation by the Trump administration.

While the truce has been welcomed by Lebanese leadership, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israeli forces will remain in a reinforced security zone in southern Lebanon.

The pause in hostilities is viewed as a critical precursor to potential direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran over the weekend.

However, reports of ceasefire violations and the exclusion of Hezbollah from formal talks have tempered international optimism regarding a long-term resolution.