Israel Confirms Two-Week Ceasefire with Iran Does Not Extend to War in Lebanon Against Hezbollah
Israel has officially confirmed that a two-week ceasefire established with Iran does not apply to the ongoing war in Lebanon against the Hezbollah group, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
In a significant development, Israel has officially confirmed that the two-week ceasefire negotiated with Iran will not extend to the ongoing military operations in Lebanon against the Hezbollah group. This announcement was made by the Associated Press, citing a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
The Israeli side emphasized its support for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for a period of two weeks. However, Netanyahu's office clarified that this ceasefire does not pertain to military actions against Hezbollah, which continue unabated in Lebanon.
Furthermore, Israeli officials noted that the ceasefire is contingent upon Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of all attacks on the United States, Israel, and other countries in the Middle East. This indicates that Israel remains deeply concerned about security in the region and is prepared to continue its military campaign against Hezbollah.
It is important to highlight that on March 16, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the commencement of a targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon. The objective of this operation was to expand the buffer zone against Hezbollah, which Israel considers a significant threat to its national security.
On the night of April 8, President Donald Trump announced his agreement to suspend bombings in Iran for two weeks. He underscored that this arrangement involves a bilateral ceasefire, which is a crucial step towards reducing tensions in the region.
Subsequently, Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed the agreement for a two-week ceasefire with the United States. In its statement, the Iranian side noted that the agreement was reached with the consent of the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, highlighting the importance of this agreement for Tehran.
According to CNN, citing a senior White House official, Israel has also agreed to suspend bombings during the negotiations, indicating the state's willingness to engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed a desire to invite delegations from Iran and the United States to Islamabad for further negotiations, which could represent a significant step towards stabilizing the situation in the region.
Previously, Trump had stated that the United States has the capability to 'destroy Iran overnight' and could bomb all bridges and power plants in the country within hours if his ultimatum regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was not met. He also warned that failure to comply with his demands would result in 'the destruction of an entire civilization.' The ultimatum issued by Trump was set to expire at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (03:00 AM Kyiv time on April 8), adding further tension to an already complex situation in the region.