First Thing: Trump announces 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon after ‘excellent conversations’
April 17, 2026
Halt to seven weeks of fighting will be followed by first Israeli-Lebanese summit in decades. Plus, why are there so many false claims that some of cinema’s most famous scenes were improvised? Good morning. Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon , to be followed by a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese leaders next week, a deal that it is hoped will bring progress toward a parallel peace agreement between the US and Iran. What has Lebanon said? The Lebanese army warned people displaced from southern Lebanon about returning home because of intermittent shelling that was reported after the ceasefire came into effect. This is a developing story. Follow the liveblog here . What has Amazon said? It has called the claims in the lawsuit “entirely false and misguided”. The company said in a statement: “Amazon is consistently identified as America’s lowest-priced online retailer, and it is ironic that the attorney general seeks to have us feature higher prices in ways that would harm consumers and competition.” Continue reading...
A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect at midnight Thursday, bringing a pause to weeks of devastating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants. President Trump revealed the agreement following what he described as "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The truce is intended to pave the way for a summit between the Israeli and Lebanese leaders in Washington next week, a meeting that would mark the first of its kind in decades. The cessation of hostilities is seen as a critical step in de-escalating a wider regional conflict that has also involved the United States and Iran.
The ceasefire began after a period of intense fighting that has resulted in significant casualties and widespread displacement. Prior to the truce, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations had been aimed at eliminating the presence of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have pushed into southern Lebanon to establish what officials term a "security zone" extending 10 kilometers from the border. In the hours leading up to the ceasefire, Israeli bombardments continued, reportedly destroying the last bridge over the Litani River. The conflict has led to a dire humanitarian situation, with over 2,000 killed in Lebanon and more than a million people displaced by mid-April.
Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered agreement, Israel is to halt offensive military actions but retains the right to act in self-defense against imminent threats. Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed Israel's agreement to the pause to facilitate peace efforts but made it clear that Israeli troops would not be withdrawing from their positions inside southern Lebanon. For its part, the Lebanese government has committed to working to prevent attacks from its territory. Displaced families have begun to cautiously move back toward their homes, despite official warnings to wait until the ceasefire's stability becomes clear.
While the Lebanese and Israeli governments are the official parties to the truce, the reaction of Hezbollah is being closely watched. The militant group was not formally part of the agreement. Hezbollah-affiliated members of Lebanon's parliament have indicated they would support the ceasefire as long as the other side adheres to it. However, the group has also maintained that the "Israeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it," suggesting its actions will depend on how events unfold. The international community has responded with cautious optimism, with the UN Secretary-General welcoming the agreement.
The temporary truce in Lebanon is directly linked to parallel negotiations for a U.S.-Iranian peace agreement. Iran had previously insisted that any broader ceasefire must include a halt to the fighting in Lebanon. The hope is that the 10-day pause will not only provide immediate relief but also create the necessary diplomatic space for the planned talks in Washington to address the long-standing state of war between Israel and Lebanon. The success of this ceasefire is considered a major test, with potential to either fuel a historic peace agreement or collapse back into a wider regional conflagration.
Source: theguardian