Israel and Lebanon Begin 10-Day Ceasefire After Six Weeks of Conflict

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at 21:00 GMT Thursday, announced by US President Donald Trump following rare direct negotiations in Washington that excluded Hezbollah. The truce follows six weeks of intense fighting that killed at least 2,196 people and displaced over one million Lebanese, part of a broader conflict that began in October 2023 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The ceasefire's viability remains uncertain as Lebanon's military reported multiple Israeli violations on Friday morning, while Hezbollah launched 75 attacks on Thursday night and refuses to disarm while Israeli forces remain in Lebanon. Israel insists on maintaining an extensive security zone up to the Syrian border and demands Hezbollah's disarmament, creating a fundamental impasse as both sides claim the right to self-defense under the agreement's terms.

Terms and Conditions of the 10-Day Ceasefire Agreement

• ▪The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon includes Hezbollah
• ▪Israel and Lebanon announced a 10-day ceasefire that came into effect at 21:00 GMT on Thursday
• ▪United States President Donald Trump announced the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday
• ▪The 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is intended to allow negotiations for a more permanent security and peace agreement to continue

Reactions from Israeli and Hezbollah Leadership

• ▪Hezbollah politician Ali Fayyad stated that Hezbollah will approach the ceasefire with caution and vigilance
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon with an extensive security zone up to the Syrian border
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not agree to Hezbollah's request that Israel withdraw troops beyond its border
• ▪Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas stated that Benjamin Netanyahu was coerced into the ceasefire by President Trump
• ▪Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel announced by Trump

Impact on Displaced Populations and Ceasefire Violations

• ▪Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of southern Lebanon to remain north of the Litani River despite the commencement of the ceasefire
• ▪Hezbollah fighters launched 38 attacks on Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory on Thursday night
• ▪Israeli forces fired a machinegun and an artillery shell towards an ambulance team affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority in Kunin in Southern Lebanon
• ▪Hezbollah fighters launched 37 attacks in northern Israel on Thursday night
• ▪Israel killed at least 2,196 people in its war on Lebanon

Prospects for Long-Term Peace and Hezbollah Disarmament

• ▪1.2 million Lebanese people were displaced in Israeli attacks during the conflict that began in October 2023
• ▪The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in October 2023 after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
• ▪Hezbollah said Israel needs to withdraw from Lebanon's southern region first as part of the 2024 ceasefire deal
• ▪The Lebanese government said in December it was close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River before a year-end deadline
• ▪A previous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had ostensibly been in effect since November 27, 2024
• ▪The United Nations counted more than 10,000 Israeli ceasefire violations since November 27, 2024

Perspective of Hezbollah

• ▪Hezbollah politician Ali Fayyad stated that Hezbollah will approach the ceasefire with caution and vigilance

Perspective of Israeli government

• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon with an extensive security zone up to the Syrian border
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not agree to Hezbollah's request that Israel withdraw troops beyond its border

Perspective of Lebanese government

• ▪The Lebanese government said in December it was close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah south of the Litani River before a year-end deadline

Perspective of Israeli opposition

• ▪Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel announced by Trump
• ▪Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas stated that Benjamin Netanyahu was coerced into the ceasefire by President Trump