10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and ‘Israel’ takes effect

A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and “Israel” took effect on Friday at 12 am, Beirut time, following sustained Iranian pressure linking any ceasefire agreement with the United States to a halt in Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

During the first few minutes of the agreement taking effect, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported a significant movement of dozens of vehicles heading toward southern towns.

In Beirut, Al Mayadeen‘s correspondent reported heavy traffic across the capital, as residents took to the streets in celebration of the ceasefire, adding that a number of families have begun returning to Beirut’s southern suburbs to check on their homes after weeks of ongoing Israeli attacks.

In a related context, Israeli media reported that just minutes before the ceasefire was to take effect, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets towards Kiryat Shmona in the northern occupied territories.

Hezbollah confirmed that on Thursday, April 16, at 11:50 pm, its fighters targeted the settlements of Kfar Giladi, Tel Hai, Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Maskaf Am with simultaneous rocket barrages.

Fragile ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and ‘Israel’ secured

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a ceasefire in Lebanon would take effect at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, midnight in Beirut.

In a post on Truth Social, he stated, “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST.”

However, it is crucial to mention that the agreement took effect after Iran insisted that any ceasefire arrangement must include Lebanon, warning that continued Israeli attacks would jeopardize broader negotiations with Washington.

Iran had earlier threatened to withdraw from its ceasefire understandings with the United States if Israeli aggression on Lebanon continued, effectively making the Lebanese front a central condition in ongoing talks.

Iranian leverage, not US mediation, drove the outcome

A senior informed Iranian military source told Al Mayadeen that Iran came repeatedly close to a return to confrontation during the course of efforts to end the war on Lebanon, with missile launch platforms prepared and ready.

According to the source, it was the enemy’s realization of the seriousness and inevitability of Iranian operations, combined with Hezbollah’s resilience and sacrifices on the front lines, that ultimately brought about the ceasefire in Lebanon.

While Trump framed the ceasefire as the product of US diplomatic initiative, the sequence of events tells a different story. Iran had explicitly linked any de-escalation in Lebanon to broader regional conditions, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz, operating under a “ceasefire for all or none” framework.

Terms of the agreement

According to the US State Department:

• Lebanon is expected to prevent strikes from its territory against “Israel”.
• Lebanese state institutions are recognized as the sole authority over national defense.
• “Israel” will refrain from aggression during the ceasefire period.

Despite the announcement, Lebanese officials continue to approach the situation with caution, given the history of ceasefire violations from “Israel.”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged Lebanese citizens to refrain from immediately returning to their towns and villages, citing ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and “Israel”.

Hassan Fadlallah, a member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, told Al Mayadeen that the Resistance had been informed by the Iranian ambassador in Beirut that diplomatic efforts by Tehran contributed to imposing a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon.

Fadlallah said that the ceasefire’s durability ultimately depends on Israeli compliance with its stipulations, warning that “we are used to the Israeli entity violating its pledges.”

Hezbollah calls for caution following ceasefire announcement

The Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, issued a statement addressing supporters and residents following the announcement of a ceasefire, urging caution amid concerns over potential Israeli violations.

In its statement, the resistance emphasized “Israel’s” history of  violating agreements, calling on residents to refrain from heading towards “targeted areas in the South, the Bekaa, and Beirut’s southern suburb until the situation becomes fully clear.”

The statement acknowledged the strong desire of displaced residents to return to their homes, praising their resilience and steadfastness throughout the aggression.