BEIRUT — A U.S.-backed 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time on Friday, pausing hostilities involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group after more than a month of fighting, officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement late on Thursday, saying he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The truce began at 5 p.m. EST (21:00 GMT; midnight in Lebanon) on Thursday, according to the White House and Lebanese authorities.
The ceasefire aims to enable negotiations toward a longer-term agreement, the U.S. State Department said. Details of the full terms remained limited, but the pause follows weeks of Israeli military operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, including airstrikes and ground activities in southern Lebanon.
Lebanese authorities reported that nearly 2,200 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since the escalation began in early March, according to health officials. More than one million residents, mostly from southern Lebanon, have been displaced, Lebanese officials said. Israel has reported at least 13 soldiers and two civilians killed in the fighting, according to Israeli authorities.
A leading Hezbollah official said the group would abide by the ceasefire if Israeli attacks stopped, while Lebanon’s prime minister welcomed the announcement. Hezbollah has not issued a formal statement confirming full compliance. Israel has indicated it would maintain forces in southern Lebanon and respond to any threats.
In Beirut, residents marked the start of the truce with fireworks, celebratory gunfire and car horns late Thursday into Friday. Thousands of displaced families began traveling south toward their homes in areas such as Nabatieh, local media and witnesses reported. Lebanon’s army said it had recorded some violations of the ceasefire by Israeli forces shortly after it took effect, though details were not immediately clear.
The agreement comes amid broader U.S. efforts to ease tensions in the region, including separate talks involving Iran. Trump posted on Truth Social that the leaders had agreed to the 10-day cessation “in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries.”
Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to hold further discussions, potentially including direct talks, to seek a more permanent resolution, according to U.S. statements. The U.S. has invited both sides to continue negotiations, possibly at the White House.
As of Friday afternoon, calm appeared to hold in many areas, though both sides urged restraint. The United Nations called for the truce to be fully respected.
The ceasefire is the latest development in longstanding tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have periodically escalated into open conflict. No immediate reports of major violations emerged hours after the truce began, but the situation remained fluid.
Officials from both countries and the United States continued monitoring compliance as the initial 10-day period started.
