Hezbollah leadership declared the agreement “null and void.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Hundreds of Hezbollah supporters staged demonstrations across Beirut from late Friday into Saturday to protest a framework agreement involving Lebanon, Israel and the United States, while the group’s leadership rejected the accord and called it invalid.

Motorcyclists and moped riders traveled through several parts of the Lebanese capital, including central Beirut, the area surrounding parliament and the airport road, within hours of the announcement of the agreement.

Videos circulated by local media and on social media showed large convoys moving through Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahieh, an area that sustained extensive damage in Israeli airstrikes.

Some demonstrators assembled near government buildings and blocked a nearby main road.

Additional footage showed protesters setting tires ablaze on the airport road before Lebanese soldiers dispersed the crowd and reopened the route, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese army established temporary checkpoints in several areas of Beirut as the demonstrations continued.

Posters displayed along the road to Beirut’s airport were also set on fire. The signs had been changed last week from reading “Thank you Iran” to “Lebanon first.”

Hezbollah leadership declared the agreement “null and void.”

Speaking Saturday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem called the U.S.-brokered agreement a “humiliation” that undermined Lebanese sovereignty.

He declared it should instead be replaced by the memorandum of understanding currently under negotiation, which includes a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of the broader agreement with Iran. Israel has objected to that approach.

Qassem also said linking an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon to Hezbollah’s disarmament crossed “red lines.”

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, criticized the agreement, calling it an “incitement to civil war.”

Hezbollah’s Lawyers’ Association also challenged the accord, arguing it conflicts with Lebanon’s constitution because it states that Israel and Lebanon “affirm the right of each state to exist in peace.”

The group further argued that Lebanon’s constitution “considers Zionism to be a challenge to human dignity” and declares “that it is necessary to work to eliminate it.”

The post Hezbollah supporters protest Lebanon-Israel framework agreement in Beirut appeared first on World Israel News.

The agreement calls for the replacement of the IDF with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Friday denounced the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement reached in Washington, calling it “a major mistake” and urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring the deal before the Security Cabinet for a vote.

“I already appealed to the prime minister this evening to hold a vote in the Security Cabinet, and I have been fighting against this agreement for weeks,” Ben-Gvir said.

The agreement, signed after five rounds of negotiations, outlines a framework to end the conflict by gradually replacing Israel Defense Forces positions in southern Lebanon with the Lebanese army while advancing the disarmament of the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

According to the US State Department, the framework establishes a phased plan to dismantle Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure, disarm the group, and facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon once the Hezbollah threat has been eliminated.

The agreement also creates the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, or MCG4L, a US-backed trilateral mechanism tasked with overseeing implementation of the framework.

The State Department said the United States will strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, support Lebanese military operations against Hezbollah, and provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance to be coordinated with the United Nations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the agreement Friday, describing it as “a major achievement for the State of Israel.” He said Israel would “remain [in] the security zone in southern Lebanon” while coordinating a phased withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces as the Lebanese army assumes control of the area, disarms Hezbollah, and establishes its authority.

Ben-Gvir also criticized Netanyahu’s comments during a press conference about his intention to form a broad national coalition if he wins the upcoming election.

“The statement is very troubling. Previous governments in which Netanyahu brought in figures from the left gave us Tzipi Livni as justice minister and Benny Gantz as defense minister, and paralyzed the government’s ability to advance a determined right-wing policy,” Ben-Gvir said. He added that the government Netanyahu should form “is only a full right-wing government.”

The post Ben-Gvir calls Lebanon agreement a ‘major mistake,’ demands Cabinet vote appeared first on World Israel News.

Asked if Iranian forces are redirecting vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said he is “skeptical” of such reports.

By JNS

The top command center of the Iran Armed Forces announced on Saturday it is again shutting maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, Reuters cited the Islamic Republic’s Mehr state news agency as reporting.

“It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy’s breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations,” the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a recorded message, according to AFP.

The U.S. Central Command said on Saturday that commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz increased throughout the day.

“Safe passage through the international waterway remained intact today as 55 merchant ships transited, moving large amounts of cargo and more than 17 million barrels of oil to global markets,” it continued.

CENTCOM further said that the Joint Maritime Information Center issued an advisory this week affirming safe passage for all vessels along a designated route that is free of arbitrary requirement claims or impediments.

The U.S. and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 that stipulates, in the first clause, that the “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon” must be ensured.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke with Fox News overnight Friday, saying that the choke point has been opened, facilitating the transportation of 16 million barrels of oil per dy.

Asked if Iranian forces are redirecting vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said he is “skeptical” of such reports. The vice president noted that mines are still present in the 20-mile stretch of the choke point, and therefore it could be that forces of the Iran’s navy warned ships against crossing in these areas.

He continued that de-mining the strait could take up to 30 days, as stressed in the MoU.

“But no, we’re not seeing any evidence of the Iranians still closing the Strait of Hormuz. It is going to take some time to clear those mines though,” Vance said.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran were scheduled to take place on Friday in Switzerland to discuss a final agreement that would end the Iran conflict and define restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear project.

However, Vance canceled his trip to the Alpine country after a deadly skirmish erupted in Southern Lebanon, leading to a delay of the talks, NBC News reported.

In his interview with Fox News, Vance said that he expects to travel to Europe for negotiations “some time in the next couple of days,” attributing the delay to a “delicate coordination dance and diplomatic protocols.”

Four Israel Defense Forces soldiers were killed in Southern Lebanon overnight Thursday when a Hezbollah drone struck their tank.

According to initial reports, the soldiers were killed in Kfar Tebnit when an explosive drone struck a battalion commander’s tank. Israeli forces struck more than 80 terrorist targets and killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives following the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.

Israel and Hezbollah renewed the fragile ceasefire later on Friday.

Jerusalem-Beirut talks to resume

Also on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The two men agreed that Israel and Lebanon would begin the next round of peace talks in Washington on Tuesday.

“Secretary Rubio underscored that Lebanon’s bilateral negotiations with Israel represent the only feasible path to reconstruction, economic recovery and ending recurrent cycles of violence,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated.

“They discussed the next round of negotiations, scheduled for June 23-25 in Washington, where the two sovereign governments will make progress toward a lasting peace. Secretary Rubio reiterated the need to disarm Hezbollah and to reestablish control over all Lebanese territory.”

The post Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again amid Lebanon fighting appeared first on World Israel News.

Trump acknowledged making the remark during Monday’s conversation with Netanyahu when the two leaders sparred over Israel’s escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed that he called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “f—ing crazy” during a heated phone call earlier this week over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, while insisting the two leaders continue to maintain a strong working relationship.

In an interview with Miranda Devine on the Pod Force One podcast, Trump acknowledged making the remark during Monday’s conversation with Netanyahu when the two leaders sparred over Israel’s escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

“I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon,” Trump said.

The comments came after Axios reported that Trump erupted during the call, warning Netanyahu against expanding Israeli strikes in Beirut as the White House worked to preserve ongoing negotiations with Iran.

According to Axios, Trump told Netanyahu: “You’re f—ing crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a–. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Another source told the outlet that Trump was “pissed” and at one point shouted, “What the f— are you doing?”

The report drew pushback from Israel, with a source who participated in the call disputing Axios’s account of the exchange.

The source acknowledged that the conversation was tense but said the dispute centered largely on how each side publicly characterized a previous call.

According to the source, Trump complained that Netanyahu’s public statements suggested Israel intended to continue the war at full intensity despite an understanding to avoid strikes in Beirut. Netanyahu, meanwhile, argued that Trump’s social media posts created the impression that Israel had agreed to halt military operations entirely.

The Israeli source said Trump warned that Israel’s position was becoming increasingly difficult to defend internationally and that the country was facing growing hostility abroad.

Despite the disagreement, Trump struck a largely conciliatory tone in the interview with Devine.

“We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump said.

“I’m a wartime president,” he added. “He’s a wartime prime minister.”

The dispute unfolded against the backdrop of growing concerns that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could derail wider diplomatic efforts involving Iran.

Earlier this week, Tehran suspended negotiations with Washington and threatened further escalation after Israel signaled plans to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. Iranian officials argued that Israeli operations in Lebanon violated the broader ceasefire framework that had helped facilitate renewed talks between Washington and Tehran.

Trump indicated he remains optimistic that an agreement with Iran can still be reached.

Talks are “rapidly evolving,” he said, adding that “we’re not going to have a nuclear weapon and lots of other good things are going to happen.”

The president also said he believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is playing a central role in decisions regarding the conflict and future negotiations.

“I’d like to meet him,” Trump said. “I’d love to meet everybody. I would like to meet him, and we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out.”

The post Trump confirms explosive details of tense Netanyahu phone call appeared first on World Israel News.

President Donald Trump confirms he called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “f—ing crazy” during a heated dispute over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, while insisting the two leaders still “work very well together.”

The post WATCH: Trump admits calling Netanyahu ‘f—ing crazy’ appeared first on World Israel News.

“The U.S. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization,” an American official said.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States is pressing a new ceasefire plan between Israel and Lebanon while signaling that it will not block a broader Israeli escalation against Hezbollah if cross-border attacks continue.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke in recent days with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as Washington sought to contain the fighting, which has intensified despite earlier US-brokered ceasefire announcements.

A US official said the proposal would require Hezbollah to halt all missile and drone attacks against Israel. In return, Israel would refrain from escalating its military campaign in Beirut.

“This would create space for gradual de-escalation and an effective cessation of hostilities,” the official said, according to Reuters.

But the same official also made clear that Washington’s patience with Hezbollah’s continued attacks is limited.

“The US. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization,” the official told multiple outlets.

Another US official told the Jerusalem Post that “the fastest way to de-escalate and protect civilians on all sides is for Hezbollah to stop firing immediately.”

The comments came as Israel sought US approval to expand military operations in Beirut, Israeli officials said.

The request followed days of heavy Hezbollah fire into northern Israel and an Israeli ground advance deeper into southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu on Sunday ordered the Israeli military to expand its ground operation in Lebanon. Israeli forces seized Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, the military said, after one of the heaviest rounds of Hezbollah fire since the April ceasefire.

On Monday, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, citing what they called repeated Hezbollah ceasefire violations and attacks on Israeli cities and civilians.

Israel had largely avoided major strikes in Beirut since President Donald Trump announced a Lebanon ceasefire in mid-April, though fighting continued in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

Lebanese officials said Aoun supported Rubio’s proposal and tried to advance it. But US officials said Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who has acted as a channel to the group, gave what one official called an “evasive and disappointing” response.

Berri said he could guarantee Hezbollah’s “full and immediate commitment to a ceasefire,” but only if Israel stopped first.

“But the question is, who will compel Israel to stop its aggression?” Berri said, according to Lebanese media cited by Reuters.

Axios reported that the latest US effort has “fizzled” as Israel expands its campaign and seeks a freer hand to strike Hezbollah in Beirut. A senior Lebanese official told the outlet that neither Hezbollah nor Israel currently appears interested in a ceasefire.

The post US backs IDF escalation in Lebanon while Rubio pushes new ceasefire appeared first on World Israel News.

Officials say US declaration of 45-day ceasefire extension is a fiction, as the Trump administration quietly backs “active pause” allowing Israel to continue large-scale operations against Hezbollah.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States’ decision to extend the ceasefire framework in Lebanon for another 45 days has effectively given Israel additional time to continue military operations against Hezbollah, according to an Israel Hayom report published Monday.

The report said the US announcement came while Israeli forces were carrying out extensive operations in Lebanon, including after Golani troops crossed the Litani River and as Hezbollah was attacking IDF soldiers with explosive drones.

Sources cited in the report described the arrangement not as a true ceasefire but as an “active pause” that allows Israel to keep targeting Hezbollah threats in southern Lebanon.

According to the report, officials in the Israeli government view Washington’s move as tacit approval for another 45 days of Israeli action against Hezbollah.

The article said that behind the formal language of a ceasefire, Israel is preserving freedom of action along the northern front.

The report said the ceasefire label remains useful to Washington, Beirut and Jerusalem because it maintains a diplomatic framework for ongoing talks while avoiding a formal declaration that the fighting has resumed.

But on the ground, Israel Hayom said, IDF forces continue to operate, and Hezbollah is still trying to wear down Israeli troops.

Israeli officials compared the current situation in Lebanon to the Gaza Strip, where Israel has continued targeted operations during the shaky ceasefire.

The report also pointed to growing frustration among residents of northern Israel, many of whom have spent years under threat from Hezbollah.

The debate is also playing out inside the Israeli government.

According to the report, some ministers favor moving quickly toward an agreement and shortening the interim period, while others want to expand the campaign against Hezbollah until the Lebanese government is able to push the group back more effectively.

Some also support further action against Iran to prevent Hezbollah from rearming, even as the Trump administration continues its efforts to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

The post ‘Active pause’ – US quietly backing IDF operations against Hezbollah during ceasefire – report appeared first on World Israel News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uses phone call with President Donald Trump to press for the US to set a deadline for Lebanon talks, as IDF prepares to continue broad campaign against Hezbollah terrorists.

By World Israel News Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Donald Trump to limit US-backed negotiations with Lebanon to another two to three weeks, as Israeli officials warn that continued restraint is allowing Hezbollah to regroup.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Wednesday night and asked Washington to set a deadline for talks with the Lebanese government by mid-May.

Israel has told the Trump administration that if the negotiations fail to produce results within that time, Jerusalem wants approval to return to its “original plan” for expanded military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli officials say Hezbollah attacks on IDF troops and northern communities are eroding the chances of a diplomatic agreement and weakening Israeli deterrence.

The political echelon has meanwhile instructed the IDF to exercise restraint in Lebanon. According to Channel 12, the military is avoiding strikes deep inside Lebanon, and any action north of the Litani River now requires specific political approval.

The IDF’s top brass has warned that Israel’s current posture — responding to Hezbollah attacks rather than initiating — benefits the Iranian-backed terror groups, strengthens the group psychologically, gives it time to recover and increases the risk to Israeli troops operating in the field.

Trump has urged Netanyahu to avoid a broader escalation and keep Israeli action limited.

In an interview with Axios, Trump said, “I told Netanyahu he has got to do it more surgically. Not knock down buildings. He can’t do it. It is too terrible and makes Israel look bad.”

The restraint is widely seen in Israel as linked to Trump’s broader regional diplomacy, including efforts to advance talks with Iran and maintain momentum toward an Israel-Lebanon arrangement.

During a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said troops were acting according to government directives.

“We have achieved everything that the political echelon laid out for us in relation to campaigns in Iran and Lebanon, and even more,” Zamir said.

Israel has asked Washington to increase pressure on Beirut to act against Hezbollah outside the IDF’s southern Lebanon buffer zone, which Israel calls its Forward Defense Line.

South of the Litani, Israel and Hezbollah have continued near-daily exchanges of fire as negotiations continue.

The post Netanyahu pushes Trump to impose 2-3 week deadline on Lebanon talks appeared first on World Israel News.

“We cannot wait forever,” a senior Israeli official said.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel has told mediators that the current Lebanon ceasefire extension is the final window for a diplomatic deal, as the Trump administration presses Israel to avoid a return to full-scale war with Hezbollah.

Israeli officials say that the ceasefire, which has been extended until mid-May, must produce a political agreement that pushes Hezbollah away from the border and restores Lebanese government control in the south.

“We cannot wait forever,” a senior Israeli official told Kan News. “We are giving two more weeks for negotiations, and that’s it.”

If no breakthrough is reached, Israel is preparing to resume high-intensity operations against Hezbollah, the report said. Israeli officials have described the current period as the last opportunity to reach a deal before the military campaign expands again.

The warning comes as Washington is trying to hold together the ceasefire and turn it into a broader diplomatic process.

President Donald Trump announced last week that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend the truce by three weeks after talks at the White House.

“The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote after meeting Israeli and Lebanese envoys.

Trump also said there was “a great chance” Israel and Lebanon could reach a peace agreement this year. But US officials have continued to press Israel to maintain the truce, while Israeli officials argue that time is running out for Lebanon to act against Hezbollah.

Israel’s central demand is that Hezbollah be pushed north of the Litani River and that Lebanon disarm the Iran-backed group.

The ceasefire has reduced the extent of the fighting but has not ended violence in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has defended negotiations with Israel despite criticism from Hezbollah and its allies.

“Negotiations are not treason,” Aoun said. “The real treason is that of those who drag the country into war in order to fulfill foreign interests.”

The post Israel sets deadline for Lebanon deal, prepares for full-scale war appeared first on World Israel News.

Hezbollah has now breached the agreement at least seven times in recent days.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump announced Thursday night that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, a move that came just as fighting flared again along the northern border and diplomatic talks got underway in Washington.

The announcement followed a rocket barrage by Hezbollah toward the Western Galilee, including the area of Shtula, where multiple launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory. The Israeli Air Force intercepted the rockets, and sirens were activated in the area.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire. The group has now breached the agreement at least seven times in recent days.

Trump said the decision to extend the ceasefire came after a meeting in the Oval Office with senior U.S. officials and representatives from Israel and Lebanon.

“The meeting went very well,” Trump wrote, adding that the United States will work with Lebanon to help it “protect itself from Hezbollah.” He also said he expects to host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

The announcement came as Israel and Lebanon began a new round of talks in Washington aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire, which has come under increasing pressure from repeated violations on the ground.

The IDF said it struck two launchers prepared for use and eliminated three terrorists attempting to fire anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli aircraft in southern Lebanon.

In a separate incident, terrorists launched an explosive drone toward IDF forces, lightly wounding a reservist soldier. Additional rocket fire was also reported toward Israeli troops operating south of the forward defense line, with some projectiles intercepted and others landing nearby.

The latest developments leave the ceasefire in place, but under growing strain as violations continue and diplomacy struggles to keep pace.

The post Trump extends ceasefire as Hezbollah fires rockets appeared first on World Israel News.

New round of US-hosted talks between Israel and Lebanon to be held on Thursday, with Lebanon’s delegation expected to push for a one-month extension of the ceasefire.

By World Israel News Staff

Lebanon is expected to ask for a one-month extension of the fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire at talks in Washington on Thursday, as Beirut tries to prevent a return to full-scale fighting along the border. The current US-mediated truce is due to expire on Sunday.

A Lebanese official told AFP that Beirut will seek “an extension of the truce for one month,” along with “an end of Israel’s bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire.”

Reuters also reported that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Beirut would push for an extension of the 10-day ceasefire and a halt to Israeli demolitions in southern villages.

According to the report, Lebanese officials see an extension as a necessary first step before talks can move to a broader phase dealing with an Israeli withdrawal, the return of Lebanese detainees, and the delineation of the land border.

The talks come as the truce is under growing strain, with at least four terrorists killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, while Hezbollah said it launched a drone at Israeli forces.

Another major Lebanese concern heading into the meeting is Israel’s demolition of buildings in parts of southern Lebanon it now occupies.

The Associated Press reported that Lebanese officials plan to raise the issue in Washington after widespread destruction in border villages alarmed residents, officials and UN peacekeepers. Aoun said “halting Israel’s demolition operations in southern villages and towns” would be one of the issues raised by Lebanese representatives.

The United States is hosting the talks and has cast them as part of a broader diplomatic effort to stabilize the region.

A State Department official told The Times of Israel, “The United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” adding, “We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to attend Thursday’s meeting.

The deteriorating security environment has also prompted a fresh US warning. The US Embassy in Beirut said on April 22 that it was urging American citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flight options remain available.

The post Lebanon to issue new demands in talks with Israel appeared first on World Israel News.

According to the ceasefire, Israel may respond “in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

By Vered Weiss World Israel News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers expressed alarm on Saturday after President Trump posted that Israel was “prohibited” from carrying out strikes in Lebanon, a statement Israeli officials viewed as exceeding the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Axios reported.

Netanyahu was “personally stunned and alarmed” by Trump’s post, according to the report.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”

The post prompted Israel to seek clarification from the White House, amid concerns that the statement conflicted with the ceasefire framework that took effect Thursday.

Under the agreement, Israel committed to refraining from offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state sites, but retained the right to act in self-defense.

According to the terms, Israel may respond “in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks,” even during the ceasefire.

In an interview with Axios, Trump reiterated his position, saying, “Israel has to stop. They can’t continue to blow buildings up. I am not gonna allow it.”

A U.S. official later clarified that the policy had not changed. “The President’s ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” the official said.

The ceasefire followed several days of U.S. diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, conducted alongside parallel work on a broader agreement involving Iran.

Despite the truce, violence has continued. On Friday night, Israel carried out a strike in southern Lebanon in response to an attack on IDF forces.

After the ceasefire took effect, one IDF reservist was killed and several others were wounded by an explosive device in southern Lebanon.

The post Netanyahu ‘stunned and alarmed’ that Trump ‘prohibits’ Israel from striking Hezbollah appeared first on World Israel News.

“I will be inviting Bibi Netanyahu and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983,” Trump wrote.

By World Israel News Staff

In a dramatic post on Truth Social Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote, adding that both leaders “have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE… they will formally begin a 10 DAY CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST.”

Trump also pointed to recent efforts in Washington, noting that “on Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years… with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.” The meeting marked a rare direct engagement between Israeli and Lebanese representatives.

Trump quickly followed up with a second post, saying he plans to bring both leaders to Washington. “I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983,” he wrote, adding that “both sides want to see PEACE.”

The announcement comes as tensions remain high along Israel’s northern border. Authorities in the Merom HaGalil Regional Council warned residents that “in the coming hours, the likelihood of fire toward the northern area is increasing,” urging the public to follow Home Front Command instructions.

At the same time, an Israeli official told Reuters that the military has no plans to withdraw from southern Lebanon during the ceasefire, underscoring ongoing security concerns despite the diplomatic push.

According to the president, he has tasked senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, “to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE.”

Earlier Thursday, a wave of conflicting reports highlighted the fragility of those efforts. While Trump initially suggested direct leader-to-leader contact was imminent, Lebanese officials denied any such plan, and later reports indicated that although Aoun spoke with Rubio, he refused to engage directly with Netanyahu despite U.S. pressure to facilitate a three-way call.

Despite the optimistic tone, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with Israeli communities in the north preparing for possible escalation even as diplomatic efforts intensify.

The post Trump declares Israel-Lebanon ceasefire appeared first on World Israel News.

Lebanon drops demands for Israel to withdraw from its territory in exchange for a ceasefire, as Israel pushes for buffer zone.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is pressing to keep a security buffer zone inside southern Lebanon as ceasefire negotiations with Beirut move forward, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli forces will continue “thickening the security zone” even as the two sides pursue rare direct contacts.

In a statement on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel was “conducting negotiations with Lebanon” for the first time in more than 40 years while also continuing military operations against Hezbollah.

He said Israel’s two main goals in the talks were “the disarming of Hezbollah” and “a sustainable peace,” and added that he had ordered the IDF to keep reinforcing the security zone and extend it eastward toward the foothills of Mount Hermon.

The demand for a buffer zone appears to be emerging as one of the central Israeli conditions in any future arrangement.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel also wants to preserve freedom of military action against Hezbollah under any ceasefire deal, underscoring Jerusalem’s insistence on maintaining operational control even if diplomacy produces a formal truce.

The negotiations gained momentum after a rare face-to-face meeting in Washington on Tuesday hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the Washington Post, the meeting brought together the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, and State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the sides “agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue.”

Lebanon had previously insisted that any talks be preceded by an Israeli withdrawal and a ceasefire.

Reuters reported on April 9 that Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said Beirut should demand a ceasefire first, along with the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory and the return of displaced residents.

But by Thursday, Israeli media reports indicated Beirut had backed away from making an Israeli pullback a precondition for the next round of talks, a shift that would mark a significant concession as negotiations continue under US sponsorship.

That softening came even as public messaging from Lebanon remained cautious and Hezbollah continued rejecting direct talks with Israel.

President Donald Trump said late Wednesday night that Israeli and Lebanese leaders were expected to speak on Thursday, saying Washington was “trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon.”

But Lebanese officials quickly cast doubt on the claim. The Lebanese presidency said it had “no information” about a reported call between President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu, even as Israeli officials suggested high-level contact was possible.

The diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of ongoing combat in southern Lebanon. Reuters reported that Netanyahu said Israeli forces were closing in on Bint Jbeil, which he called a major Hezbollah stronghold, while making clear that negotiations would proceed in parallel with military pressure.

The post Israel demands Lebanon buffer zone as Beirut softens ceasefire terms appeared first on World Israel News.

Tensions are rising as Israel braces for a possible new round of fighting with Hezbollah.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli military carried out a rare ground raid inside southern Lebanon early Thursday, targeting a municipal building used by Hezbollah — an extremely unusual operation since the November 2024 ceasefire that ended a yearlong conflict between Israel and the terror group.

According to the IDF, troops entered the Lebanese town of Blida around 1:30 a.m. and raided the local city hall, which the army said was being used by Hezbollah “for terror purposes.”

“Hezbollah regularly engages in terror activity under the guise of civilian infrastructure,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

“This is another example of a pattern of behavior that endangers the residents of Lebanon and reflects Hezbollah’s cynical exploitation of civilian infrastructure for terror purposes,” the army added.

Lebanese media reported that one Lebanese national, named as Ibrahim Salameh, was killed during the raid.

In a statement, the IDF confirmed that one person had been killed in the course of the operation.

“Once an immediate threat to the soldiers was identified, [the troops] opened fire to remove the threat, and a hit was identified,” the army said.

Israeli forces reportedly withdrew from Blida around 4 a.m., several hours after the operation began.

Later on Thursday morning, at approximately 10 a.m., Lebanese outlets reported that Israeli aircraft carried out strikes in the nearby town of Jarmaq.

The IDF confirmed those reports, saying it had targeted a rocket launcher and tunnel shaft used by Hezbollah.

In recent weeks, the Israeli military has intensified its operations against Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon, citing increased terror activity in the area.

Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel is permitted to take action against imminent threats from the Iran-backed terror group.

Hebrew-language media outlets have reported that Israeli security and intelligence officials are preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict with Hezbollah, as the group rebuilds its infrastructure and resumes militant activity in southern Lebanon.

The post In rare ground raid, IDF targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon appeared first on World Israel News.

Intelligence sources say Hezbollah learned key lessons about Israel’s vulnerabilities for a “future war.”

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli security officials are preparing for a renewal of conflict with Hezbollah, as the Lebanon-based terror group works to restore its infrastructure and regroup following a roughly yearlong conflict with the Jewish state. That fighting began shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led massacres.

For about a year beginning in October 2023, Hezbollah launched near-daily explosive drone, rocket, and missile attacks on Israeli communities and military assets, the majority of which were located in northern Israel. The fighting forced tens of thousands of Israeli citizens to evacuate their homes, some of whom remained displaced for 18 months.

The war escalated dramatically in September 2024, when Israel intensified its efforts to end the ongoing aggression by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah suffered crippling losses during the previous round of conflict with Israel — most notably the assassination of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike. The organization was further weakened by a Mossad operation in which thousands of Hezbollah operatives were wounded and dozens killed after their communication beepers detonated simultaneously.

Despite these accomplishments, Israeli security officials warn that Hezbollah is regrouping and has learned from both its mistakes and achievements during the conflict. The war concluded with a Biden administration-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, but intelligence sources now fear Hezbollah is preparing for a “future war.”

In recent weeks, Israel has increased the number of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is permitted to act against imminent threats.

“Hezbollah suffered heavy blows” from Israel, “but it also had successes” during the conflict, such as launching a drone that struck Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private home in Caesarea, a senior intelligence source told Hebrew-language outlet Walla. Hezbollah will attempt to incorporate what it learned about Israel’s weaknesses and “leverage” that knowledge, the source warned.

Adding to tensions is Hezbollah’s refusal to disarm, despite a resolution by the Lebanese government requiring it to do so.

The post Israeli official: Hezbollah gearing up for renewed fighting appeared first on World Israel News.