Iran has agreed to stop supporting Hezbollah and Hamas, says Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump told CBS that Iran had agreed to stop supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. He claimed that Iran had “accepted everything” in talks with the United States, including cooperation to remove enriched uranium from the country and transfer it to the United States.
“Iran’s enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere; the transfer of uranium to the United States was never an option,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state television IRIB.
“Iran’s enriched uranium is sacred to us, like Iranian soil,” he added. He said there was “no ambiguity regarding any part of the negotiations; we have clearly stated our positions.”
Lebanon and Iran: Saudi Foreign Minister talks with U.S. counterpart
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio to discuss efforts to ensure the sustainability of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and to consolidate the cease-fire in Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
No transfer of enriched uranium to the United States, Tehran says
The transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium to the United States has never been an option for Tehran, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on state television, in response to statements by Donald Trump claiming that the Islamic Republic was ready to work with Washington to recover uranium enriched to 60% — buried since the June 2025 war — and transfer it to the United States.
Argentine President Javier Milei to visit Israel on Sunday
Argentine President Javier Milei is expected in Israel on Sunday, where he is set to meet his ally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It will be the ultraliberal leader’s third visit since taking office in December 2023.
The trip comes shortly after the expulsion of Iran’s chargé d’affaires from Argentina and reflects Milei’s strong alignment with Israel in the current geopolitical context.
Trump says Iran-US meeting likely this weekend
The U.S. president told Axios that a meeting with Iran is likely to take place by the end of the weekend.
"The Iranians want to meet. They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend. I think we will get a deal in the next day or two," he said.
Nearly 20 vessels spotted heading out of the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz
Nearly 20 vessels have been observed heading toward the exit of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a maritime data site cited by Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Iran had announced the reopening of the waterway to commercial shipping, provided vessels follow a designated route and obtain authorization from the Revolutionary Guards.
Israel reveals special military operation carried out in the Anti-Lebanon on Thursday before cease-fire
The Israeli army has revealed that it carried out a military operation, codenamed “Al-Oukab” (The Eagle), just minutes before the cease-fire with Lebanon came into effect.
During the operation, special forces units were deployed in a mountain range located in the Anti-Lebanon region.
Read more here
Iran tempers Trump’s claims of major breakthroughs, speaks of preliminary agreement
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that significant differences remain between the United States and Iran, including over the nuclear issue, and that serious discussions are still needed.
Earlier in the day, Donald Trump had said that a deal was very close, with most points already negotiated. He also claimed that Iran was ready to give up its nuclear program and had agreed to work with Washington to recover its highly enriched uranium, buried since the June 2025 war, in order to transfer it to the United States.
The Iranian official however said that Iran is prepared to ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear program if its demands are met, without providing further details.
He also said that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, announced earlier by Iran’s foreign minister, was conditional on compliance with the terms of the cease-fire between Iran and the United States.
He also told Reuters that a preliminary agreement could be reached in the coming days, with the possibility of extending the cease-fire, and that such an understanding could open the door to discussions on lifting sanctions and compensating for war damages.
Middle East situation remains fragile, warns Saudi finance minister
Although he welcomed Iran’s announcement of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, paving the way for the resumption of oil shipments, Mohammed Al-Jadaan warned that the situation in the Middle East remains very fragile.
The Saudi finance minister, who chairs the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the advisory body of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said some countries would be able to restore production capacity quickly, while others would need more time depending on the extent of the damage sustained.
He added that the biggest challenge was less about how much oil and natural gas production could be increased, and more about whether insurers would feel comfortable covering shipments and addressing other logistical issues, speaking during a press briefing held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.
Iran telecom attacks: Gulf states refer matter to the UN
The Gulf states and Jordan have asked the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to condemn Iranian attacks on their infrastructure, according to a letter seen by AFP, and have called for measures to protect their infrastructure. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the agency’s next Council meeting, scheduled from April 28 to May 8.
Aoun: 'Lebanon will not be broken'
The Lebanese president concluded his speech by saying:
“To the world, I say: Lebanon will not be broken, its people will not die, its rights will prevail. We will build our future through our own will and through the will of all Lebanese. Long live my people. Long live Lebanon.”
Aoun: 'To those gambling with Lebanon’s fate and the lives of its people, I say: enough!'
The head of state then addressed displaced persons, saying: “You will return to your homes, they will rise again with you, and we are with you, by your side, we will not abandon you.”
“To the steadfast who remained in their homes under threat, I say: your sacrifices will not be in vain, and your pride will remain our emblem. To those adventurers who are playing with Lebanon’s destiny and the lives of its people, I say: enough! The only viable project in Lebanon is the state project, which is the strongest, most enduring, and safest for all.”
Aoun: 'The Lebanese are all in the same boat'
“The Lebanese are all in the same boat,” Joseph Aoun said. “Either we steer it wisely to the shore of safety, or we sink it and all go down with it. No one has the right to commit this crime, neither in the name of a slogan, nor through suicidal instinct, nor out of loyalty to anything other than Lebanon and its people. I implore you today, in the name of your sacrifices and your suffering, in loyalty to those who have passed and in loyalty to the steadfast of our people: open your hearts and minds, do not cloud your vision, do not close your judgment through slogans of accusation and betrayal.”
“Homelands are not built on instinct, but on awareness, unity, and trust,” he added.
Aoun: 'A single armed force that protects us all'
The head of state continued his speech, saying: “The strength of this country lies first and foremost in the conscience of its people, in its unity founded on law, justice, and the choice of living together according to the principles of our national pact. One state, to which our full loyalty and definitive belonging are owed. One constitution to which we refer. One law to which we are all subject. One armed force that protects us all.”
“Do not let voices of doubt and betrayal sow division among you,” he said. “Do not be drawn in by those who exploit your emotions to build their glory on the back of your stability. Rely on your reason, overcome the instincts of manipulators, and be convinced that what we are doing today and tomorrow is for your security, your protection, your free, dignified and safe life, and to offer your children a more secure and stable future.”
Aoun: 'There will never be any agreement that affects our national rights'
“I affirm to you in the language of oath and promise: there will never be any agreement that affects our national rights, that diminishes the dignity of our resistant people, or that abandons even a single part of our homeland,” Joseph Aoun said.
“Our objective is clear and declared: to stop the Israeli aggression against our land and our people, achieve an Israeli withdrawal, extend the authority of the state over all its territory through its own forces, secure the return of prisoners, and allow our families to return to their homes and villages in safety, freedom, and dignity.”
Aoun: 'I am ready to go wherever necessary to liberate my land'
“I have said it and I repeat it: I am ready to fully assume responsibility for these choices,” Aoun continued.
“I am ready to go wherever necessary to liberate my land, protect my people, and save my country. My mission is unique, clear, and defined: to save this country and its people. I will accomplish it with absolute national, human, and spiritual conviction. And I know that you are with me: in private as in public, in your hearts as in your minds.”
Aoun: 'I will no longer allow the bleeding of my people for the interests of powers'
“I will no longer allow a single Lebanese to die, nor the continued bleeding of my people, for the interests of powers or the calculations of nearby or distant axes,” Aoun said. “Between suicide and prosperity, my people and I choose prosperity, and we refuse suicide. Between deceptive slogans that destroy and rational steps that build, my people and I choose reason.”
“Between senseless and needless death in the name of foreign causes, and life for our homeland and our people, in dignity, freedom, and well-being… my people and I choose life,” he added.
Aoun: Negotiations with Israel 'neither weakness, nor retreat, nor concession'
The head of state continued: “I tell you with frankness and confidence: these negotiations are neither weakness, nor retreat, nor concession. They are a decision born of the strength of our belief in our rights, of our concern for our people, and of our responsibility to protect our homeland by all means.”
“They are above all the expression of our refusal to die for anyone except Lebanon,” he added. “Negotiations do not mean, and will never mean, the abandonment of a right, the renunciation of a principle, or any infringement on the sovereignty of this country.”
Aoun: 'We are certain that we will save Lebanon'
“Today, we stand before a new stage: moving from efforts to stop the fire to efforts to establish lasting agreements that guarantee the rights of our people, the unity of our land, and the sovereignty of our homeland,” the head of state said.
“In this stage, as in the previous one, we are certain that we will save Lebanon. We also know that we will be the target of all attacks, for a simple reason: we have restored Lebanon’s independence and decision-making power, for the first time in nearly half a century.”
“We are now negotiating in our own name, we are deciding in our own name. We are no longer a card in anyone’s pocket, nor a battlefield for others’ wars,” Aoun said. “And we will never be again. We have become once again a state that alone holds its decision, that carries it proudly, and that embodies it in actions and words, for the life of its people and the well-being of its children, and for nothing else.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun begins speech following announcement of cease-fire with Israel
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun began his speech following the announcement, the previous day, of a cease-fire with Israel.
“We endured accusations, insults, denigration, and lies. And we did not back down. Until it became clear that we were right. And until the entire world was convinced that what we did was the most just and appropriate course,” he said.
The head of state thanked “all those who contributed to the achievement of the cease-fire, starting with the American president, Donald Trump — a friend— , all the way to our Arab brothers as a whole, foremost among them the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” “We are counting on their friendship to continue what we began yesterday and achieve what we aspire to,” he added.
Trump reiterates Iran deal is not linked to Lebanon, promises to 'make Lebanon great again'
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated that the agreement under discussion with Iran is not linked to Lebanon.
“Again! This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!” Trump’s TRUTH Social post said.
Beirut a 'city free of Hezbollah weapons': government decision irreversible, Salam says
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed that his government’s decision to strengthen state control in the capital and grant monopoly over weapons exclusively to legitimate armed forces is irreversible.
“The government’s decision to reinforce full state control in Beirut and restrict the possession of weapons to legitimate forces only, in order to preserve the safety and physical integrity of citizens and their property, taken on the 9th of this month, is irreversible, and we will ensure its strict implementation,” he said in a post on X.
In the aftermath of what Lebanon described as an Israeli “massacre,” the Lebanese government had tasked the army and security forces with ensuring the “monopoly of weapons” in Beirut, with the aim of declaring the capital a “city free of Hezbollah weapons.”
Kiryat Shmona protests cease-fire
The mayor of the Israeli border community announced that schools and municipal services in the city will be closed on Sunday in protest against the cease-fire with Lebanon, which came into effect at midnight.
Avichai Stern is calling for the dismantling of Hezbollah as both a military and civilian organization, the establishment of effective defensive lines along the border, and full protection for residents and public institutions, Haaretz reported. The mayor also said that protest actions against the agreement would be held across the country.
Trump says Iran deal is 'very close,' AFP reports
Joseph Aoun receives call from Keir Starmer, who reaffirms UK support
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who offered condolences for the victims of Israeli attacks on Lebanon and expressed solidarity with the Lebanese people during what he described as a difficult period in their history, the presidency said in a post on X.
Starmer also expressed the United Kingdom’s readiness “to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of displaced Lebanese, and to cooperate with official Lebanese humanitarian agencies in this regard.”
The British Prime Minister further reaffirmed his country’s support for the Lebanese army within the framework of cooperation programs between the two countries, welcoming the cease-fire announced on Thursday evening as well as President Aoun’s efforts to achieve it.
“President Aoun thanked Prime Minister Starmer for his positions, stressing that British support for Lebanon, and for its army in particular, has a profound impact on the Lebanese people and reflects the close friendship between the two countries.
He added that Lebanon was at the dawn of a new phase, offering an opportunity to consolidate security and stability and extend the authority of the state over the entirety of its territory,” the statement added.
'Race against time' to reopen roads after cease-fire
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Works announced on Friday in a statement that it began field operations as early as 3 a.m. to restore road axes and infrastructure damaged or destroyed by Israeli strikes during the war between Israel and Hezbollah since March 2, which was halted by a cease-fire that came into effect at midnight.
The operation, launched “with the authorization of the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),” constitutes, according to the ministry, “a race against time to ensure the safety of citizens and the resumption of economic activity,” as the Israeli army had targeted numerous access routes in south Lebanon in an effort to isolate the region from the rest of the country.
At the northern entrance to Sour, the ministry said it reopened the Qasmieh bridge on the international highway, and opened an additional lane connecting the highway at Burj Rahhal to the coastal road leading to the city, in order to improve traffic flow toward Sour and its surroundings.
The ministry also cleared and reopened roads in several towns in south Lebanon, including the Nabatieh road network, the main road in Kfar Tibnit, the Toul and Sawaneh axes, as well as routes linking Maaroub, Arzoun, Chhour, and Srifa. Work was also carried out on the axis connecting Zrarié to Burj al-Shemali and then to Sour, near Tibnin Hospital, as well as on the road linking Housh to Sour.
Three members of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups killed in drone strike near Erbil
Three members of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups were killed in a drone strike near Erbil in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, security sources said.
Israeli strike on Kounin–Beit Yahoun road kills 1 and injures 3
An Israeli strike targeting a motorcycle and a car on the Kounin–Beit Yahoun road in the Bint Jbeil district has killed one person and injured three others, including a Syrian national, the Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center said.
Artillery fire targets outskirts of Kounin and Braasheet
Israeli artillery fire targeted the outskirts of Kounin and Braasheet (Bint Jbeil district), our correspondent reported.
Iran reportedly agrees to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, according to Trump
In a series of optimistic statements about the state of negotiations with Iran, the U.S. president said that Tehran had agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely and would not receive any frozen assets from the United States, Bloomberg reported.
Donald Trump added that a deal to end the war was nearly finalized.
Iran: Trump says he could travel to Islamabad if an agreement is reached
Donald Trump told Reuters that he could travel to Islamabad if an agreement is concluded, but that he has not yet made a decision, adding that there will likely be further discussions this weekend regarding a potential deal.
US working with Iran to recover its highly enriched uranium, according to Trump
The U.S. president told Reuters that the United States will work with Iran to recover enriched uranium and bring it back to the U.S.
More than 400 kg of uranium enriched to over 60% has been buried underground since the June 2025 war. Its fate is a key point in negotiations between the two countries aimed at ending the war launched by Israel and the U.S. against Iran on Feb. 28.
Donald Trump had indicated that Tehran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium.
"We're going to get it together. We're going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery ... We'll bring it back to the United States," Trump said during a phone interview with Reuters.
Defense Minister visits aid distribution and displacement centers, reaffirms support for soldiers’ families
Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa visited the aid distribution center at Charles Helou Station, where he reviewed the procedures for preparing and distributing assistance intended for military personnel. He also visited the public secondary school of Sed al-Boushrieh, where displaced soldiers are being accommodated, in order to assess their living conditions.
He stated that the army leadership “stands by them in these difficult circumstances,” emphasizing efforts to “ensure their essential needs are met as quickly as possible, while preserving their dignity.” The minister recalled that the army “has been and will remain the cornerstone of protecting the country and preserving the dignity of its citizens,” adding that soldiers defending the borders deserve full support.
Hezbollah parliamentary bloc supports a conditional cease-fire and criticizes Lebanese government negotiations with Israel
The Hezbollah parliamentary bloc has expressed cautious support for a cease-fire, stating that it would only be acceptable if it is comprehensive, covers the entire Lebanese territory, and leads to a complete Israeli withdrawal. The bloc attributed a role to Iran in reaching the agreement, claiming that it “was achieved primarily under Iranian pressure and through diplomatic contacts.”
It strongly criticized the Lebanese government for its direct contacts with Israel, warning that the authorities are leading the country down a “dangerous path of concessions” that they are not able to sustain. It also stated that “the government has gone back on each of the commitments it had previously presented as preconditions for any opening of negotiations.”
Return of displaced persons: 357 personnel deployed and more than 40 suspects wanted after so-called 'celebratory' gunfire incidents
The head of the Public Relations Division of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), Joseph Mousallem, said at a press conference that before the cease-fire came into effect, “a security plan was activated, involving the deployment of 57 officers and 300 personnel [357 in total] to assist citizens in returning to their homes and villages.” He added that “traffic remains heavy due to the destruction of certain bridges.”
He also urged citizens to exercise caution: “They must not approach damaged or cracked houses and should coordinate with the relevant authorities,” while also calling for any suspicious objects to be reported immediately.
Joseph Mousallem further indicated that “more than 40 suspects involved in yesterday’s shooting incidents are actively being sought.”
So-called “celebratory” gunfire in the southern suburbs of Beirut after midnight on Friday, following the entry into force of the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, left one person dead according to Civil Defense, while the Lebanese Army announced that it had arrested seven shooters.
Barrack says Aoun and Salam are 'the best leaders Lebanon has ever had'
U.S. envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are “the best leaders Lebanon has ever had,” stressing the need to open a channel of dialogue with Hezbollah. He also said the United States is seeking to reach an agreement between Israel and Lebanon, including Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Barrack added that it was “time to resume negotiations between Syria and Israel,” saying a normalization agreement could be reached even before one with Lebanon.
In the same context, he said Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa had stated he does not want to go to war with Israel, noting that “no missiles have been fired from Syria toward Israel.”
One person killed in a drone strike on the Kounin–Beit Yahoun road
One person was killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a car and a motorcycle on the main road linking Kounin to Beit Yahoun (Bint Jbeil), our correspondent in the South reported. The strike took place as a cease-fire came into effect at midnight.
Cease-fire with Lebanon: Israeli army announces lifting of wartime restrictions
The Israeli army announced on Friday the lifting of all wartime restrictions across the country, on the first day of a truce with Lebanon following a month and a half of conflict with Hezbollah.
Nearly all restrictions on economic and educational activities had already been lifted in most of the country after a ceasefire with Iran came into effect on April 8, except in the north due to ongoing military operations on that front.
According to Home Front Command guidelines, the entire country shifted at 4:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT) to “full activity level, without any restrictions, except in the frontline area, where gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 1,000 people” until 8:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. GMT) on Saturday, after which this remaining restriction will also be lifted, the military said in a statement.
Trump says Iran removing all mines from Strait of Hormuz 'with help of the USA'
Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran was removing all naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. support, without providing further details.
“Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines! Thank you!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Lebanon: Israeli strikes from March 2 to April 16 killed 2,294 people and injured 7,544
The Ministry of Health said the cumulative provisional toll of the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, from March 2 to April 16 at midnight, stands at 2,294 killed and 7,544 wounded.
Among the victims are 100 killed among rescue workers and health personnel, and 233 wounded, the statement added. The ministry said the final toll will be published after the completion of rubble removal operations, the recovery of bodies, DNA testing, and the identification of victims.
Touch says it has already repaired 30 mobile network stations in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs
The mobile operator Touch said its technical teams visited several sites in the south — north of the Litani River — as well as in Beirut’s southern suburbs to repair outages affecting multiple stations.
“The technical teams managed, from the early hours of dawn, to repair more than 30 stations in the South and the suburbs, and mobile voice and data services are now available to most subscribers in the southern localities north of the Litani River and in Beirut’s southern suburbs,” the company said in a statement. It added that it is currently repairing damaged stations in West Bekaa, noting that network stability is generally being observed across the Bekaa region.
Touch said its teams will continue working in the coming days to ensure network coverage for calls and internet, with the quality expected by subscribers in these areas in particular, as well as across Lebanon.
Israel banned from bombing Lebanon, Trump says
Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States had barred Israel from bombing Lebanon after a cease-fire came into effect.
"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Israel’s objective of dismantling Hezbollah 'will not be achieved tomorrow,' Netanyahu says
Iran sets conditions for passage through the Strait of Hormuz
An Iranian military official said commercial vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route and with permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, state television reported.
The clarification comes after Tehran announced the reopening of the strategic waterway during the cease-fire with the United States.
Lebanon cease-fire a 'moment of hope' for civilians
The Norwegian Refugee Council says the cease-fire in Lebanon is a “moment of hope” for civilians, while warning that it must lead to a lasting end to hostilities. Its secretary-general, Jan Egeland, said that after 46 days of violence, the cease-fire offers people across Lebanon “a chance to catch their breath.”
He stressed, however, that civilians need more than a temporary reduction in violence, pointing to reports of Israeli violations and warnings issued to residents against returning to their homes south of the Litani River.
“For this ceasefire to mean something for civilians, it must lead to a real and lasting end to hostilities,” Egeland said. “The Lebanese people do not need another fragile truce. They need a permanent cease-fire.”
U.S. President Donald Trump says blockade of Iranian ports will remain until an agreement is reached
The U.S. maritime blockade of Iran remains in place, Donald Trump said. “THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE,” the U.S. president wrote.
The announcement comes after Iran’s foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz had been fully opened to commercial traffic during the cease-fire with the United States, which is due to end next week if no agreement is reached to extend it.
The U.S. president, however, wrote that "THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED.”
Two new explosions heard in Qantara
Two new explosions were heard in Qantara (Marjeyoun district), where the Israeli army was advancing again on Thursday, our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.
Two foreign sheikhs killed on the Lebanese border while fighting the Israeli army
Two sheikhs, from Iran and Bahrain, were killed while fighting on the front lines in southern Lebanon, according to information from our correspondent.
Sheikh Mansour Habibipour, from Iran, and Sheikh Ali al-Mahouzi, from Bahrain, were both killed in the fighting.
Iran opens Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi announced in a post on X that "In line with the cease-fire in Lebanon," the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "declared completely open for the remaining period of the cease-fire, on the coordinated route as already announced by the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran."
2 non-Lebanese sheikhs killed in combat on Lebanon’s border
Two sheikhs were killed while fighting Israeli attacks on the front lines, our correspondent in the South reported.
Sheikh Mansour Habibi Pour, from Iran, and Sheikh Ali al-Mahouzi, from Bahrain, were killed while taking part in combat along the Lebanese border.
One more person found after Israeli strike on Kfar Hatta, 3 killed
A third person has been pulled from the rubble following yesterday’s Israeli strike on Kfar Hatta (Saida), bringing the death toll to three, our correspondent in the South reported.
The victims have been identified as Ahmad Hammoud, Mohammad Ahmad Hammoud, a Lebanese Army soldier, and Abbas Hammoud.
Syria’s president says country ‘affected’ by war in Lebanon
President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria is affected by developments in Lebanon, according to Al-Jazeera.
At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, he also congratulated Trump’s “efforts to stop the ongoing war,” emphasizing that Syria chose a path of neutrality amid rising tensions in the region.
Aoun cites 'crucial negotiations,' highlights 'essential role' for Lebanese Army in the South 'after Israeli withdrawal'
President Joseph Aoun said direct negotiations with Israel are “delicate and crucial,” and called for “national responsibility” in the coming phase.
“The eyes of the world are on Lebanon,” he said before a delegation of Beirut MPs, according to a statement posted by the presidency on X.
He said Lebanon aims through the talks to “consolidate the cease-fire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied southern territories, secure the release of prisoners, and address outstanding border disputes.”
“The cease-fire is the gateway to moving forward with negotiations, and it is an option that enjoys both local and international support,” he added.
Without explicitly mentioning Hezbollah’s disarmament, Aoun said “the Lebanese Army will play an essential role after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, by deploying up to the southern international border, ending armed displays, and reassuring residents of the South after their return to their villages and localities.”
“No armed force other than the army and legitimate security forces will be present.” He also welcomed the “support for Lebanon” from U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as “Arab and international support” for the country.
Israeli strike moments before cease-fire kills family
Inside Najdeh hospital, Mahmoud Sahmarani lay in a hospital bed with a fractured arm and a bruised face. Shortly before the truce took effect last night, a strike destroyed the building where he was, killing his father, uncle, cousin, and a neighbor.
“I had gone to get a shisha. Otherwise, I would have died with them. Israel respects nothing. They kill us, civilians, because they cannot achieve their military objectives. A truce with them means nothing,” he said.
In Nabatieh, rescue teams to operate in wartime mode for next 10 days
(Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
In Nabatieh, Mahdi Sadek, coordinator of a local nonpartisan rescue group, said he remains pessimistic about the cease-fire.
“This truce offers no guarantees. We are not changing how we operate over the next 10 days. For now, there is no question of returning to our center in the city or reopening our two restaurants, whose profits fund our teams,” he told our journalist from a center set up opposite the Najdeh hospital of the Lebanese Popular Relief Organization at the entrance of Nabatieh.
Sadek said he buried three colleagues during the war, including the most recent, Mahdi Abou Zeid, who was killed on April 15 in a triple strike targeting rescue workers.
Death toll from overnight Israeli strike on Sour rises to 15, at least 10 still missing
Sour Mayor Hassan Dabbouk told our correspondent that rescue teams have so far recovered 15 bodies from the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Israeli strike, carried out just as the cease-fire came into effect.
Search operations are ongoing to determine the fate of around 10 people still missing, possibly more, he said.
According to the mayor, the strike targeted buildings of at least five to six stories.
“If these buildings had been fully occupied, the toll would have been an even greater humanitarian catastrophe,” he said, noting that many residents had fled the city due to repeated threats from the Israeli army.
Israeli flag raised atop Beaufort Castle removed, says Arnoun mayor
After spotting an Israeli flag raised atop Beaufort Castle, residents of the town of Arnoun removed it, the municipality’s president, Fawaz Qatibi, told our correspondent.
It was not possible to determine when the flag had been raised, he said.
Qatibi also confirmed there was no Israeli military presence at the site, noting that the Lebanese Army had conducted a field inspection. Beaufort Castle is located on the northern bank of the Litani River.
A photo circulating on social media showed the Israeli flag at the top of the castle, which Israel bombed in 1982 before occupying it until its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
A video shows a young man removing the flag and throwing it from the 300-meter-high rocky ridge on which the castle stands.
Israeli defense minister: '[Israeli army] holds all captured positions in Lebanon'
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army "holds and will continue to hold all the places it has cleared and captured," and stressed that Israel remains committed to "disarming Hezbollah by military or diplomatic means," as cited by Haaretz.
Katz claimed the ground maneuver into Lebanon and strikes against Hezbollah had achieved "many gains but are still not complete," adding that Israeli forces continue to operate inside Lebanon under a temporary cease-fire framework.
He said the "security zone" established by the Israeli army in south Lebanon "has been cleared of militants and weapons and is empty of residents," and that it will continue to be cleared of terror infrastructure, including the demolition of houses in Lebanese border villages that, he said, "have become terror strongholds in every respect."
Katz said the objective remains the full disarmament of Hezbollah, either through military action or a diplomatic arrangement, and that Israel remains committed to completing the mission.
Cyprus Airways becomes first European airline to announce return to Beirut
Cyprus Airways announced the resumption of flights between Larnaca and Beirut starting May 1, according to a press release sent to its partners in Lebanon.
It is the first European airline to announce the resumption of flights to Beirut, while Air France had extended the suspension of its flights until May 3, a decision made before the cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect at midnight.
The airline normally operates four flights a week between Cyprus and Lebanon.
Sour authorities say 13 killed by Israeli strike just before truce
Israeli strikes on Sour in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people just before the 10-day cease-fire with Israel took effect at midnight, a city official told AFP.
The official, who asked not to be identified, said another 35 people were injured, and emergency workers were still searching the rubble for another "15 missing."
The strikes destroyed six residential buildings, and came just minutes before midnight, an AFP correspondent said.
South Lebanon Water Establishment mourns 4 employees killed by Israel ‘while performing their duties’
The South Lebanon Water Establishment mourned four of its employees “who were killed by Israel while performing their national duty to ensure the provision of water to residents in steadfast villages in the South.”
The employees are Abbas Toubah from the Nabatieh Water Department, Ali Awada from the Sour Water Department, Hassan Shaheh from the Bint Jbeil Water Department, and Hassan Dabbageh from the Bint Jbeil Water Department.
Litani River Authority reports environmental impacts at Arzi springs following cease-fire
“Field assessments conducted after the cease-fire at the Arzi springs [Saida district] revealed direct and indirect impacts of Israeli airstrikes on the hydrological and environmental system,” the Litani River Authority said in a statement on the morning of the cease-fire.
The Authority reported “potential chemical contamination resulting from remnants of explosions and metal shrapnel, and degradation of the surrounding vegetation cover, raising the risks of erosion and pollutant transport.”
“In this context, the Litani River National Authority will carry out a series of specialized laboratory analyses to evaluate water quality,” it concluded.
Israeli attack on residential complex in Sour kills 11, injures 35
Last night's Israeli attack on a residential complex in Sour killed 11 and injured 35, just moments before the cease-fire, according to the Civil Defense, which is still continuing search operations for missing persons under the rubble, our correspondent in the South reported.
Lebanese Army blocks road at Khiam–Marjayoun–Ibl al-Saqi junction and prevents access to Khiam
The Lebanese Army has blocked the road at the Khiam–Marjayoun–Ibl al-Saqi junction toward the town of Khiam (Marjayoun) and is preventing passage.
Explosions in southern border villages, unexploded ordnance in the Saida district
*Three explosions were heard in Qantara (Marjayoun).
*Two other Israeli-caused explosions were reported, one in Bint Jbeil and another in Khiam (Marjayoun), our correspondent in the South reported, where invading Israeli troops are maintaining their positions.
*Unexploded Israeli ordnance on the river road between Arzi-Zrarieh (Saida) was found, according to our correspondent.
Lebanese Army and Abbasieh municipality warn residents about approaching suspicious objects as they return to the South
The Lebanese Army has warned people heading back to southern Lebanon not to approach suspicious objects.
In a leaflet, the Disaster Management Unit of the Grand Serail urged: “Do not touch them. Move away calmly. Warn others about them.”
For its part, the Municipality of Abbasieh (Sour) also called on returning residents to “exercise the utmost caution and vigilance, and to avoid heading to fields, agricultural lands, or open areas at this stage, except after ensuring that they are free of war remnants and suspicious objects that may pose a direct risk to public safety.”
“The municipality urges everyone not to approach any strange or suspicious object, and to immediately inform the Lebanese Army or the relevant authorities in order to take the necessary measures,” it added.
'Fighters' hands will remain on the trigger,' Hezbollah says on morning of cease-fire
Hezbollah released a statement saying that “in defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fought the ‘Battle of the Eaten Straw’ over 45 days.”
The party said that between March 2 and April 16, it issued 1,828 statements announcing 2,184 different military operations. “Through these, it confronted occupation forces belonging to the Israeli enemy army inside Lebanese territory and targeted its positions, barracks, and military bases within the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The party also said that its operations targeted Israeli settlements and cities, reaching a depth of 160 kilometers south of the Lebanese border, "using loitering drones and various rocket fire, in response to the enemy’s crimes against civilians and its destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure."
Hezbollah fighters “carried out their operations at an average rate of 49 operations per day,” and “their hands will remain on the trigger, vigilant against the enemy’s treachery and betrayal.”
In Haret Hreik, shop owner reports 'less damage than in 2024'
(Credit: Lucille Wassermann/L'Orient-Le Jour)
Bilal Abou Zeinab, originally from the border village of Taybeh, lives in Haret Hreik, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where he runs a scarf shop.
He cleared debris from his storefront, blown out by an Israeli strike, after returning from Aley, where he had taken shelter during the war.
He said he will not sleep in Haret Hreik tonight because there is “no electricity or water.” He visited the area the evening before the cease-fire took effect to assess the damage, which he described as “less extensive than in 2024, due to more targeted strikes.”
“We’ve suffered because of Israel since 1948. We’ve rebuilt our homes in the South four times. In the last war, I lost my apartment in the southern suburbs, just like my son did,” he said.
He expressed little hope that the war would end soon and criticized President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, saying they are “betraying our memory today, without taking into account our decades of suffering.”
Like him, many others, mostly men, returned to inspect damage to their homes, according to our journalist. All said they would not stay the night, fearing renewed Israeli attacks.
Shop owners cleared debris in front of their businesses but remained cautious and said they would not reopen immediately.
In traffic before Sour, 21-year-old Sami thanks 'Berri and the resistance'
Stuck in traffic near the Qasmieh bridge on the road to Sour, Sami, 21, sat in the back of a truck loaded with belongings. “Who could wait before going back home?” he told our journalist, referring to calls to delay returns.
He is heading back to Srifa, in the Sour district.
“I don’t know in what condition the house is, but I’m happy,” he said, while acknowledging he fears the war could resume. He said he feels “victorious.”
“The Israelis will leave our land, and that’s thanks to Hezbollah’s weapons,” he said.
He thanked “the estez” — a nickname for Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri — and Hezbollah’s “resistance,” rather than the state, for the cease-fire.
“It’s the situation on the ground that led to a cease-fire, not negotiations,” he added.
Hajjar says security forces and army must step up vigilance in coming days
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar said security forces and the army must “step up their efforts and strengthen coordination to support the return of residents to several villages and towns, notably by reinforcing security and public order measures and ensuring smooth traffic flow.”
He spoke during a meeting at the ministry’s central operations room to follow up on “measures and procedures implemented on the ground to accompany the cease-fire agreement,” which took effect Friday at midnight.
He also held a videoconference with officers from the Internal Security Forces’ operations room.
Hajjar also asked Civil Defense Director General Brig. Gen. Imad Khreiss “to actively participate in debris removal operations and respond quickly to citizens’ calls.”
In Nabatieh, rescue group director hopes for an end to a war 'particularly violent for civilians'
(Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
In Nabatieh, Ali Shukur, director of the independent rescue group Beit al-Talaba, said he feels only partially reassured by the announcement of a temporary cease-fire.
“After the last war, we felt we had narrowly escaped something that could have destroyed us. This time, we don’t know what awaits us, but, God willing, the war is truly over,” Shukur said.
He described the current war as “particularly violent for civilians in Nabatieh, with the targeting of residential neighborhoods and rescue workers.”
Shukur has not left the city since the start of the war. “Every five days, we would distribute food boxes to people,” he told our journalist in Nabatieh’s main square.
Celebratory gunfire: Lebanese Army arrests seven Lebanese, one Syrian and one Palestinian
The Lebanese Army said it arrested seven Lebanese, one Syrian national, and one Palestinian national who took part in celebratory gunfire after the cease-fire took effect.
“An investigation has been opened with those arrested, who will be referred to the competent authorities. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining individuals involved,” the army said.
Machine-gun fire and B7 rocket fire were heard, notably in Beirut’s southern suburbs, after midnight. No official toll of possible casualties has been released yet. Unconfirmed reports indicate two deaths.
Lebanese Army working on 'full reopening' of coastal route
The Lebanese Army said it is working on the “full reopening” of the Qasmieh bridge, which links Saida to Sour along the coastal road, “in coordination with municipalities and local associations.”
A military unit has also deployed around the bridge, the statement added.
The bridge was struck again by Israel on Thursday during the day. The army initially blocked access overnight, fearing another strike, before launching earthmoving operations to fill the crater caused by the previous day’s bombardment.
In traffic jams toward Sour, displaced residents from Kafra say they will not leave again even if truce fails
Traffic on the highway between Saida and Sour has come to a complete standstill, our reporter said.
In one car bearing a flag with the image of a Hezbollah fighter killed in combat, Mohammad Sbaity, his widow and brother said they were returning to Kafra, in the Bint Jbeil district.
“We are returning with pride thanks to the blood of the martyrs,” the widow said, adding that she has no children and wished she “had been fighting with her husband on the front.”
“My brother humiliated the United States and Israel,” his brother said.
They said they do not know in what condition they will find their village, but insisted that “whether the cease-fire holds or not, we will not leave again,” even “if they [Israel] kill us all,” the woman said.
She added that “Hezbollah will decide whether the truce holds and whether it responds to Israeli violations.”
'We know the war is not over': Displaced woman from Beirut’s southern suburbs makes a brief return to Chiyah
(Credit: Lucille Wassermann/L'Orient-Le Jour)
At the entrance to the Chiyah neighborhood, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Fatmeh Ghayad, in her 80s, briefly returned to check on her apartment and retrieve a few belongings.
The woman, who spent around 10 days sleeping in the street in Horsh Beirut park, is now displaced at the reception center set up in the Sports City stadium.
She will return there tonight rather than spend the night in Chiyah. “We know the war is not over,” she told our journalist.
In Nabatieh, 'the cease-fire will not last'
(Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
In Nabatieh, Ali, a mechanic who has traveled back and forth between the city and Beirut during the war, believes “the cease-fire will not last.”
“How can we trust an enemy that targets civilians, children, whenever it wants?” he told our journalist, pointing to the devastated facades across the street. “These used to be a café, mukhtar offices, a grocery store… Not missile depots.”
Amid the rubble of his café, Haidar Awada assesses the damage. “I will start repairing, whatever happens. God is with us. I didn’t come here to look at the ruins and do nothing.”
Group of southern border residents says 'no short-term solution in sight'
The “Gathering of Residents of Southern Border Villages” said in a statement that the border region “continues to pay the highest price,” and lamented that “no short-term solution is in sight.”
Villages along the border strip remain largely occupied by Israel, which seeks to establish a “security zone.”
The group also said that the return of residents has been “postponed indefinitely,” and warned that even if they return, it will be “to a land stripped of homes and buildings, without roads or infrastructure, where everything — people, stones, and trees — has been destroyed.”
They called for “a return to the previous situation, with reconstruction and compensation plans for those affected,” and, until then, for “serious attention to the situation of the displaced.”
Lebanese actor and his daughter killed in strike shortly before cease-fire in Saida district
In the final moments before the cease-fire took effect at midnight, an Israeli attack struck a house in the village square of Loubieh, in the Saida district, killing two people: actor Ali Younes and his daughter Celine.
Significant damage was reported to nearby homes, as well as the village square and the mosque.
In a Facebook post shortly before the strike, Younes described the “tense anticipation” among residents of the South, who hoped for the imminent “humanitarian truce” but also feared “violent military escalation” in the final hours before the cease-fire.
Teenager killed by unexploded Israeli ordnance in Majdal Selm
In Majdal Selm, a teenager was killed by the detonation of Israeli munitions that had not exploded during a previous strike. Another person was wounded.
South Lebanon: Demolition in Khiam, rescuers targeted in Kounin
Despite the cease-fire, Israeli attacks targeted south Lebanon in recent hours, according to our correspondent.
In the morning, Israeli artillery shelling and automatic gunfire targeted Kounin, in the Bint Jbeil district, striking a team of paramedics from the Islamic Health Committee, Hezbollah’s rescue unit, wounding several people.
Israeli forces also rigged and blew up homes in Khiam.
Berri expresses 'cautious satisfaction' over cease-fire
Parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri expressed “cautious satisfaction” over the cease-fire, citing “Israeli intentions,” particularly Israel’s reported refusal to withdraw its army from south Lebanon, in an interview with the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
He also reiterated his rejection of any “direct negotiations” with Israel.
Berri said Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told him in a phone call Thursday morning that the cease-fire had been reached “according to a comprehensive formula including Iran,” without providing further details.
He added that he has “absolutely no concern” about the internal situation, saying it “is becoming increasingly stable.”
Bridges over the Litani reopen after Israeli strikes
Authorities partially reopened the road at the Qasimieh bridge, which links Saida to Sour along the coastal highway, to allow thousands of displaced people to return to their villages. Israel had struck the bridge again on Thursday.
After initially blocking access overnight due to fears of another strike, and following Israeli warnings against movement south of the Litani, Lebanese soldiers carried out earthworks to fill the crater caused by the previous day’s bombing, according to our correspondent in south Lebanon.
The nearby municipality of Burj Rahal also announced that the coastal road is now open and secured, allowing displaced residents to return home, although the bridge itself remains closed.
Further east, authorities reopened a secondary road at Zrarieh–Tayr Filsey, while the main road over the “Feb. 6 bridge” remains closed. Israel struck that bridge on March 13.
'All our childhood memories are buried under the rubble'
Roads leading to Nabatieh are also experiencing heavy traffic, according to our correspondent and reporters on the ground.
In Deir Zahrani, Dana Badran found a cap her brother wore during Independence Day celebrations 25 years ago.
She stood amid the rubble of her family home on the main road. “Israel bombed it three weeks ago. All our childhood memories are buried under the rubble,” she told L’Orient Today.
She came with her sister Joelle and cousin Joey to “save what can be saved.” Joey found only a drying rack and a few clothes.
“This cease-fire is painful, of course, but the Lebanese are deeply attached to their land, and it is our right to live here, so we will continue to do so,” he said.
Overnight Israeli strike on Sour: 3 bodies recovered, several still missing
In Sour, where an Israeli strike on the city’s corniche as the cease-fire took effect destroyed three buildings, rescue teams continued clearing rubble on Friday morning, according to our correspondent.
A Civil Defense source in Sour said rescuers have recovered three bodies so far, while they continue searching for six to eight people still missing.
Good morning, and thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the cease-fire in Lebanon.
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