JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran does not apply to Israel's military operations in Lebanon, according to Israeli media reports.
Netanyahu's office stated that Israel supports U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend attacks on Iran but clarified that the agreement covers only direct U.S.-Iran hostilities and excludes Israel's separate campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The comments came hours after Trump announced the ceasefire late Tuesday, conditional on Iran allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire followed more than six weeks of conflict that escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets beginning in late February. Iran responded by restricting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Under the deal, mediated by Pakistan, Iran agreed to coordinate safe passage for vessels during the two-week period, subject to technical limitations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.” Araghchi confirmed Tehran’s acceptance if attacks halted.
Israeli officials indicated that operations against Hezbollah would continue. Details on the scope of the ceasefire and its exact start time remained unclear early Wednesday.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Friday, officials said. The talks are expected to address Iran’s 10-point proposal, which Trump had earlier described as a workable basis for discussion.
Some attacks were reported in the region shortly after the ceasefire announcement, according to multiple news outlets, though both the U.S. and Iran described the pause as taking effect.
Global oil prices dropped sharply on Wednesday following news of the agreement and potential resumption of shipping through the strait, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
As of early Wednesday, limited vessel movements were reported in the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian coordination, shipping monitors said. The situation in Lebanon and the broader region remained under close observation.
