A ten-day ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon has taken effect after US President Donald Trump earlier announced the truce, adding that he hoped to host a historic meeting between the leaders of the two countries in the coming days.
The ceasefire officially took effect at midnight local time in Israel and Lebanon (10pm Irish time).
Israel has been fighting militant group Hezbollah since it launched rocket attacks in support of Iran last month.
Hezbollah has not officially said if it will recognise the ceasefire, but one of its politicians told said that the group would respect it if Israeli attacks on its militants stopped.
The US State Department said earlier that the ceasefire was agreed to enable negotiations towards a permanent security and peace agreement,, adding that the truce period may be extended by mutual agreement.
Israel's campaign in Lebanon has emerged as a major obstacle to securing a peace deal sought by US President Donald Trump to end the war on Iran which he launched with Israel in late February, which has disrupted the global energy trade, spiking oil prices and risking further economic fallout.
Pakistan had earlier said that peace in Lebanon was essential for talks it is mediating to end the war between the United States and Iran.
Once the ceasefire takes effect, the Lebanese government will take steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups in its territory from carrying out any attacks against Israel, according to the text of the ceasefire agreement released by the US State Department.
"All parties recognize Lebanon's security forces as having exclusive responsibility for Lebanon's sovereignty and national defense; no other country or group has claim to be the guarantor of Lebanon's sovereignty," the agreement reads.
Israel can take necessary measures in self-defence against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks during the ceasefire period, but it agreed not to carry out any offensive military operations in Lebanon during the 10 days.
The two countries have requested the US to facilitate further direct negotiations between them to resolve all remaining issues, including demarcation of the international land boundary, according to the ceasefire agreement.
"Israel and Lebanon affirm that the two countries are not at war and commit to engaging in good-faith direct negotiations, facilitated by the United States, with the objective of achieving a comprehensive agreement that ensures lasting security, stability, and peace between the two countries," the text released by the US State Department said.
Mr Trump announced the ceasefire on his Truth Social platform, saying he had held excellent conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Netanyahu said that the ceasefire offered an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Beirut, but insisted that the disarmament of militant group Hezbollah remained a precondition.
"We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon," he said in a televised speech.
"This opportunity exists because... we have fundamentally changed the balance of power in Lebanon," he added, highlighting Israel's military achievements against Hezbollah since the war first broke out in October 2023.
"This balance has shifted to such an extent that in the past month we have begun receiving calls from Lebanon to hold direct peace talks - something that had not happened for over 40 years," he said.
Mr Netanyahu said Israel had agreed to the 10-day truce but will maintain a 10km "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.
He added that Israel maintained two conditions for the ceasefire: Hezbollah's disarmament and a lasting peace agreement "based on strength".
Mr Netanyahu said he rejected the two conditions posed by Hezbollah: Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a ceasefire based on the principle of "quiet in return for quiet".
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he "welcomes" President Trump's announcement of a 10-day ceasefire with Israel.
Mr Salam said he welcomes the ceasefire, "which is a key Lebanese demand that we have pursued since the very first day of the war" between Hezbollah and Israel, after Mr Trump announced the temporary truce following phone calls with the presidents of the two countries.
"As I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I pray for mercy upon the martyrs who have fallen, and I affirm my solidarity with their families," Mr Salam said, thanking a number of European and Arab states for their "efforts" to reach a ceasefire.
Senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah said the group had been informed by Iran's ambassador to Lebanon that a one-week ceasefire could begin this evening.
Asked if Hezbollah would commit to the truce, Mr Fadlallah said everything was tied to Israel's commitment to halt all forms of hostilities, and credited Iran's diplomatic efforts for the possible ceasefire.
Another Hezbollah lawmaker, Ibrahim al-Moussawi, said that the Lebanese group would respect a ceasefire, if Israeli attacks on the militants stopped.
"We in Hezbollah will cautiously adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that it is a comprehensive halt to hostilities against us and that Israel not use it to carry out any assassinations," he said.
"We express thanks to Iran for having applied pressure in Lebanon's favour," he said, adding that "the ceasefire would not have happened without Iran considering the ceasefire as equal to closing the Strait of Hormuz".
Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire
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The US-Israeli war with Iran spilt into Lebanon on 2 March, when Iran-backed Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon just 15 months after the last major conflict.
Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,100 people in Lebanon since 2 March and forced more than 1.2 million to flee, Lebanese authorities say.
Hezbollah attacks have killed two Israeli civilians, while 13 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since 2 March, Israel says.
An Israeli security official said the Israeli military had no plans to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon during any ceasefire.
'Meaningful talks'
Mr Trump, in another social media post, said he will be inviting Mr Netanyahu and Mr Aoun to the White House for "meaningful talks" between the two countries, which have remained in an official state of war since Israel was established in 1948.
Earlier, a senior Lebanese security official said an Israeli strike had severed the last bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country.
One person was killed in an Israeli strike targeting a car on the road that links to Syria, the state news agency said.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on either strike.
Stock markets have rallied strongly in recent days on expectations of a swift resolution to the fighting, with global equities vaulting past their previous all-time highs in trading.
However, oil prices gained, showing continued uncertainty about the ceasefire prospects and the opening of the strait.
Ceasefire welcomed by Von der Leyen and McEntee
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the announcement of the 10-day ceasefire and reiterated that Europe would continue to call for the respect of Lebanon's territorial integrity.
"I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump. This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives," Ms von der Leyen wrote on X.
"Europe will continue to call for the full respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we will keep supporting the Lebanese people through substantial humanitarian aid," she added.
I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 16, 2026
This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives.
Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace.
Europe will continue to call for…
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said: "I welcome the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, following the first high-level dialogue between both countries in over 30 years.
"I commend the efforts of all those who worked to make this possible."
Analysis: Lebanon ceasefire agreement significant on number of fronts
