The truce follows a month-long bombing campaign by Israel against targets it says are linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
The truce could boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of war.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said in a video message.
The Lebanese state is not an active party in the conflict but president Joseph Aoun welcomed the agreement.
Hezbollah said in a statement that any truce must apply “across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement”.
Trump said in an earlier social media post that the ceasefire would start at 5pm EST (10pm UK time). The president said he had held “excellent conversations” with Netanyahu and Aoun and planned to invite them both to the White House for “meaningful talks”.
Iran still has ‘thousands’ of missiles available, US lawmakers toldIran still has “thousands of missiles” and attack drones it can use against US and allied forces in the Middle East, a senior US military official told lawmakers.
But Lt. Gen. James Adams, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told the House Armed Services subcommittee on Thursday that the US and Israeli bombing of Iran had caused “significant degradation of Iranian military capabilities.”
Graeme Massie16 April 2026 23:28
Full story: Donald Trump claims credit for 10-day Lebanon truce as Hegseth again threatens IranIsrael and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, Donald Trump said on Thursday, as he claimed credit for solving his “10th war”.
The truce follows a month-long bombing campaign by Israel against targets it says are linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Lebanon, which has insisted on a ceasefire before engaging in more talks, says the Israeli army has killed more than 2,000 people in its country, including health workers and journalists, since the start of last month.
The president invited the leaders of both countries to the White House for the first such high-level talks since 1983.
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Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 22:45
Starmer to say opening Strait of Hormuz ‘global responsibility’ at Paris meeting
Sir Keir Starmer (PA Wire)Sir Keir Starmer will say reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a “global responsibility” as he co-hosts a gathering of world leaders in Paris on Friday.
The crucial shipping lane, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally flows, has been closed by Iran as a response to America and Israel’s strikes.
In retaliation, US president Donald Trump has begun his own blockade of Iran’s oil ports, aimed at stemming Tehran’s fossil fuel income.
Sir Keir will arrive in Paris late on Friday morning to co-host a virtual meeting with Emmanuel Macron and then have lunch with the French president.
Around 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation are expected to be on the call.
The prime minister is expected to tell the summit: “The unconditional and immediate reopening of the strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again.
“Emmanuel Macron and I are clear in our commitment to establish a multinational initiative to protect freedom of navigation.
“We must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security.”
The call will focus on supporting the US-Iranian ceasefire and coming up with a plan to ensure the Strait of Hormuz can remain open to shipping after the Middle East war ends.
Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 22:30
Iran will control Strait of Hormuz after war, says Biden adviser
Amos Hochstein (Managing Partner – TWG Global) speaks on stage (Getty)Iran will maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict is resolved, reshaping global energy markets for the long term, Amos Hochstein, an energy and national security adviser to former president Joe Biden, said Thursday at Semafor World Economy in Washington, DC.
“Regardless of how the war ends, Iran will have control of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Hochstein.
“Once you get that genie out of the bottle, it doesn’t come back in.”
No matter what is in the “ultimate end-of-war documents,” Tehran now knows it has leverage against the US and its neighbours in the region, he said.
“They are going to want to keep that piece of leverage, and they won’t give it up.”
Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 22:15
Israeli-Lebanon ceasefire beginsThe Israeli-Lebanon ceasefire has begun.
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun has welcomed the agreement and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his nation agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, a truce that could pause fighting with the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war.
US president Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed militants inside the country.
Hezbollah said in a statement that any truce must apply “across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement”.
Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said in a video message.
Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 22:03
Full story: ‘I’m sure the Pope is a great guy’: Trump insists he’s not warring with Leo but then spreads lie about Catholic leaderPresident Donald Trump on Thursday claimed to not have any beef with Pope Leo XIV and suggested that his multiple attacks against the American-born Bishop of Rome are merely the product of a disagreement over Iran’s nuclear weapons program — something the pontiff has never spoken publicly about.
Full story:
Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 21:40
US military to target Iranian ships worldwide The US military has widened its efforts beyond the blockade of Iran’s ports to allow its forces around the world to stop any ship tied to Tehran or those suspected of carrying supplies that could help its government, from weapons to oil, metals and electronics.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, specifically pointed to operations in the Pacific, saying the US would be targeting vessels that left before the blockade began earlier this week outside the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for energy and other shipments.
US forces in other areas of responsibility “will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran”, he told reporters at the Pentagon.
The military also detailed an expansive list of goods that it considers contraband, declaring that it will board, search and seize them from merchant vessels “regardless of location”.
A notice published on Thursday says any “goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict” are “subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory”.
Jane Dalton16 April 2026 21:20
Israel and Lebanon ceasefire explainedIsrael has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, a truce that could pause fighting with the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war.
US president Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed militants inside the country.
Hezbollah said in a statement that any truce must apply “across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement”.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said in a video message.
Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah in the border area.
Israeli troops have pushed into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a “security zone”, which Netanyahu has said will extend at least 8km to 10km (five to six miles) into Lebanon.
Hezbollah said that “Israeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it, and this matter will be determined based on how developments unfold”, a stance that could complicate the ceasefire.
Netanyahu said Israeli troops will stay in an expanded security zone in southern Lebanon “much stronger, more extensive and more continuous than before”.
“That is where we are, and we are not leaving,” he said.
Trump posted the ceasefire announcement on his Truth Social platform, saying it was to begin at 5pm Eastern time (9pm GMT, 10pm UK time).
The announcement comes two days after the countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington.
Hezbollah had opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.
Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.
Trump also invited the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House for what he said would be “the first meaningful talks” between the countries since 1983.
Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 21:06
Netanyahu confirms Israeli ceasefire in LebanonIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed his country has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, a truce that could suspend fighting with the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel.
Mr Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.
“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” he said in a video message.
US president Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed militants inside the country.
Hezbollah said any truce must apply “across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement”.
Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed the ceasefire (Reuters)Jane Dalton16 April 2026 21:00
Watch: Trump claims Pope said Iran can have a nuclear weaponTrump claims Pope said Iran can have a nuclear weaponDaniel Haygarth16 April 2026 20:00
