Israel, Lebanon agree fragile ceasefire in fighting as deeper tensions remain

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a temporary halt in fighting, pausing weeks of escalating violence while opening a narrow window for diplomacy.

The “cessation of hostilities” came into effect on April 16 at 2100 GMT and is set to last for an initial 10 days, according to details released by the US State Department and reported by Reuters.

The agreement is intended to create space for peace talks between the two countries, even as key issues at the heart of the conflict remain unresolved.

Under the terms of the deal, Lebanon’s government is expected to take what the document describes as “meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from launching attacks against Israeli targets.

It also affirms that Lebanon’s official security forces should have “exclusive responsibility” for the country’s sovereignty and national defence, a clear reference to ongoing efforts by Beirut since 2025 to disarm Hezbollah.

At the same time, Israel retains broad latitude. The agreement states that it preserves the right to take “all necessary measures in self defence”. However, it also commits Israel to refrain from offensive military operations inside Lebanon.“Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets, in the territory of Lebanon by land, air, and sea,” the deal says.

The pause in fighting can be extended by mutual agreement, particularly if Lebanon demonstrates it can assert control over its territory, another implicit condition tied to the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Hezbollah halted its attacks when the ceasefire took effect but stopped short of endorsing the deal. The group said any agreement must not grant Israel what it described as “freedom of movement” inside Lebanon and warned that the continued presence of Israeli troops on Lebanese land gives people “the right to resist”.

International concern remains high. Volker Turk, the United Nations human rights chief, urged all sides to fully implement the agreement and move quickly towards a broader settlement.

“Meaningful efforts must now focus on a durable political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures long term protection on all sides for civilians, who have borne the brunt of weeks of unrelenting violence, destruction and displacement,” he said in a statement.

Despite the ceasefire, major sticking points persist. The agreement does not require Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where its forces have pushed residents south of the Litani River and destroyed homes and infrastructure.

The area under Israeli control now accounts for about eight percent of Lebanese territory. Israel Katz made clear that Israel has no immediate plans to pull back. “The IDF holds and will continue to hold all the places it has cleared and conquered,” he said, adding that Israeli forces have established a security zone extending roughly 10 kilometres into Lebanon.

Katz also said the military would continue demolishing buildings it claims are being used by Hezbollah, signalling that operations on the ground may continue even during the pause.

He added that Hezbollah must ultimately be disarmed south of the Litani River, either through political negotiations or renewed military action once the ceasefire expires.For now, the deal offers a brief and uncertain calm. Whether it leads to meaningful negotiations or simply delays another round of fighting will depend on what happens in the coming days.