Lebanon ceasefire holds as residents return; Trump says Iran deal 'very close' as France, Britain plan Hormuz call
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to be holding, drawing residents back to southern villages and Beirut’s southern suburbs to assess the damage, even as Israel vowed its military would not withdraw. The truce follows months of cross-border strikes tied to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
In Beirut’s Haret Hreik district, a local official said the scale of destruction is stark. Deputy Mayor Sadek Slim reported that Israel struck the neighborhood 62 times over the past six weeks and that 26 buildings were completely destroyed. Crews have cleared rubble from partially damaged structures, he said, but the municipality needs specialized equipment for the worst-hit sites.
Traffic has snarled as people return to check on their homes while Hezbollah supporters move through the area on scooters. The pause on the Lebanon front is intertwined with broader regional diplomacy. Iran made halting Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah a key demand in its talks with the United States.
President Donald Trump said a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran is “very close,” with a second round of talks expected soon. The Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point in those negotiations; the leaders of France and Britain plan to host a virtual call of about 40 countries — without the United States — to advance plans to reopen the vital waterway.
International reactions to the ceasefire were swift. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the announcement, praising what he called “bold and sagacious” diplomatic efforts by Trump and expressing hope it will pave the way for sustainable peace. Pakistan played a key mediating role between Iran and the U.S.
during recent ceasefire efforts, though talks toward a broader peace deal collapsed in Islamabad last weekend. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres also welcomed the agreement, praised U.S. efforts in securing it and said he hoped it would lead to negotiations on a long-term solution.
He urged all parties to fully respect the ceasefire. The human toll remains heavy. Iran’s forensics chief said more than 3,300 people have been killed in the country since U.S.-Israeli strikes began Feb. 28. More than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon, 32 in Gulf states and 23 in Israel.
Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and two more died of noncombat causes. With the ceasefire set for 10 days, attention now turns to whether it can hold long enough to allow substantive talks to take shape and to whether plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz gain traction.
For many Lebanese families returning to shattered neighborhoods, the immediate focus is on clearing debris and gauging what can be rebuilt.