Israel-Lebanon Cease-Fire Officially Takes Effect, Trump Urges Hezbollah To Act ‘Nicely’

00:35 17.4.2026

A 10-day cease-fire agreed by Lebanon and Israel went into effect at midnight local time, with journalists reporting “heavy gunfire” and rocket launches that may have been celebratory firings as the truce began.

Lebanese state media reported continued Israeli artillery fire in southern Lebanon, but the reports could not immediately be verified. The Lebanese Army early on April 17 claimed several Israeli “cease-fire violations” and advised citizens to delay returning to southern villages.

The cease-fire was announced on April 16 by US President Donald Trump and confirmed by Israeli and Lebanese leaders.

Trump made the announcement of the cease-fire after speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The US president said he expects to host the two leaders within a week or two.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said he agreed to the 10-day cease-fire and that there was a chance to make a historic deal with Lebanon after decades of conflict.

Trump said the cease-fire incudes Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union has blacklisted its only armed wing.

In a social media post after the cease-fire took effect, Trump wrote: “I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!”

Lebanon has insisted on a cease-fire before it would enter into further talks, but it has vowed to disarm Hezbollah militants.

AFPTV video showed people returning to Hezbollah’s stronghold in the city’s southern suburbs, some waving the Iran-backed movement’s yellow flag or carrying portraits of its slain leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel in 2024.

Hezbollah had earlier warned residents to refrain from returning to the area until it was clear that the cease-fire would hold.

Hezbollah urged people to refrain from firing weapons in celebration.

“These bullets should be directed at the enemy, not fired into the air in celebration,” it said in a statement.

Israel has been launching strikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in neighboring Lebanon since March 2, two days after the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, when Hezbollah forces opened fire in support of Tehran. An ongoing two-week cease-fire in the Iran war has not applied to Lebanon.

The Israeli military said its forces would remain deployed in southern Lebanon after the cease-fire and it urged Lebanese residents not to move south of the Litani River, about 20-30 kilometers north of the Israeli border.

UN chief Antonio Guterres hailed the cease-fire announcement and urged “all actors” to fully respect the truce, his spokesman said.

“The secretary-general welcomes the announcement of a 10-day cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon and commends the role of the United States in facilitating” it, Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

With reporting by AFP

Source: trump-khamenei/33640284.html?lbis=449849

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