10-Day Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Begins Amid Skepticism

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect at midnight local time after being announced by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, though skepticism remained over whether the truce would hold.

Trump said Friday he is inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for what would be their first direct talks in more than 30 years.

Aoun had refused to speak with Netanyahu just hours earlier. However, both governments ultimately agreed to the ceasefire following more than a month of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon after deadly clashes.

Nearly 2,200 people in Lebanon have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to local authorities. Israel says it targets “Hezbollah terrorists” who often hide in civilian buildings.

However, news of the ceasefire spread through Israel’s northern communities while sirens blared three times overnight, warning of incoming rockets from Lebanon, witnesses said.

TRUCE UNDER STRAIN

“In the sky above the northern city of Nahariya, Israel’s air defense interceptors shot them down, triggering loud explosions. Ambulance crews said at least three people were wounded by shrapnel in the hours before the ceasefire took effect, including two seriously,” said Lucy Williamson, a Middle East correspondent for broadcaster BBC in Nahariya.

“On the ground here—and across the country—there’s skepticism about why Israel’s leader has signed up to the truce,” she added, referring to Netanyahu.

In Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, residents expressed both hope and reservations about the ceasefire, two days after the countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington.

“I think it is in the best interest of both Israel and Lebanon to have a ceasefire, and hopefully both countries will be wise enough to hold it,” said Tel Aviv resident Eyal Rosovsky.

On the other side of the border, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling “continued” in the villages of Khiam and Dibbine on Friday, about half an hour after the truce began.

VIOLATIONS REPORTED

The Lebanese Army repeated its warning to displaced residents against returning to southern Lebanon due to intermittent shelling.

Israel’s military said early Friday that it was looking “into reports of shelling and artillery fire” in southern Lebanon.

The terms of the ceasefire, provided by the U.S. State Department, prohibit Israel from offensive military actions in Lebanon. However, they appear to leave room for “self-defense,” including actions against “planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

Despite reported violations, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire.

Guterres said he hopes the truce will pave the way for negotiations toward a long-term solution to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.

REGIONAL RISKS

Guterres praised the United States for facilitating the ceasefire, he added.

The secretary-general reaffirmed U.N. support “for all efforts to end hostilities and the suffering of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border,” Dujarric said.

However, concerns remained over a separate ceasefire involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Pakistan’s army chief met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday in a bid to extend that separate ceasefire arrangement.

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