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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, right, meets with Pakistani Chief of Defence Asim Munir, left, in Tehran [Handout/Iranian parliament speaker's office via Anadolu]
By Lyndal Rowlands, Zaid Sabah, Yashraj Sharma, Urooba Jamal, Mariamne Everett, Federica Marsi, Elis Gjevori and Adam Hancock
Published On 16 Apr 2026

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16 Apr 2026 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

Our coverage continues

This live page is closing, but our 24-hour coverage of the conflict continues.

Join us for all the latest developments, analyses and reactions here.

Displaced people celebrate as they return to their homes in Sidon, Lebanon, as the ceasefire begins [Aziz Taher/Reuters]
16 Apr 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap of the main developments today:

  • A 10-day ceasefire has come into effect between Israel and Lebanon. The truce was announced earlier in the day by President Trump.
  • The US president said the ceasefire includes Hezbollah, and he also revealed that Israel’s prime minister and Lebanon’s president could meet ⁠in Washington over ⁠the ⁠next week or two.
  • Israel continued to pound southern Lebanon in the hours leading up to the start of the ceasefire. The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rose to 2,196 on Thursday.
  • The ceasefire was welcomed by a number of countries in the region, including Iran, Qatar and Jordan.
  • President Trump said that the US is “very close” to making a deal with Iran and said another meeting between the two countries could take place this weekend.
  • The US leader also said that Iran has agreed it will not have a nuclear weapon and that the agreement that is currently being negotiated “goes beyond 20 years”.
  • The US Central Command claimed that American forces turned around 14 vessels in the 72 hours since Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports went into effect.
  • The US House of Representatives rejected a Democratic effort to curb Trump’s authority to wage war on Iran.
16 Apr 2026 - 23:40
 (23:40 GMT)

‘We were there for Ukraine, NATO wasn’t there for us’: Trump

While speaking with reporters at the White House, US President Donald Trump rebuked the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation yet again for not joining US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

“We spend trillions and trillions of dollars on NATO, and when I ask them to get involved in a much smaller situation, they weren’t there for us,” Trump told reporters. “None of them.”

“We were there [for] Ukraine. When they’ve had problems over the years we were there,” he said. “I don’t think they’d be there for large problems, and therefore, I think they’ve got themselves a problem.”

16 Apr 2026 - 23:35
 (23:35 GMT)
Houthi

‘Hope Hezbollah acts nicely,’ Trump says after Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

President Trump has just posted on his Truth Social platform, addressing Hezbollah, hours after announcing the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

“I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do,” Trump wrote in the post.

“No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!”

16 Apr 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)
Houthi

Hezbollah claims 56 operations against Israel in final pre-ceasefire surge

The Lebanese armed group claims its fighters have carried out 56 military operations over the past 24 hours, targeting various Israeli settlements, troop concentrations, military vehicles and close-range clashes along Lebanon’s southern border and in northern Israel.

16 Apr 2026 - 23:20
 (23:20 GMT)

‘Worse option’: Northern Israeli leaders furious over ceasefire with Lebanon

We have some reactions coming in from some leaders of regional councils in northern Israeli regions, which include the worst-hit areas from the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Moshe Davidovich, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, in the western Galilee of northern Israel, said in a statement that the ceasefire and the establishment of a security zone up to the Litani River “is not a diplomatic achievement” but risks further violence.

“The residents of the north are not mere statistics in a show of international public relations,” he added.

Shimon Guetta, head of the Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council, also in northern Israel, rejected outside influence over Israel’s security policy, demanding that any agreement must guarantee “complete disarmament of Hezbollah” and “absolute security” for northern communities, adding that “agreements on paper are meaningless” without clear enforcement.

Amit Sofer, head of the Merom HaGalil municipality in northern Israel, told the CNN broadcaster that the ceasefire is a “worse option” than the status quo. “It is unreasonable for Donald Trump to tie the Lebanese arena to the Iranian arena; by doing so, he condemns northern residents to more years of a constant threat,” he said.

16 Apr 2026 - 23:10
 (23:10 GMT)
Analysis

Can Israel claim any symbolic victory in Lebanon? 

“Absolutely not,” said Abed Abou Shhadeh, a political commentator based in Israel’s Jaffa, “because in Lebanon, it was a zero-sum game”.

We have been speaking with Shhadeh on the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The political commentator told us that, unlike Iran, where the Israeli public can accept the idea that the regime did not fall, as Iran is a much bigger country, a very faraway one, while “Lebanon, for the Israeli public, is a trauma”.

Every Israeli who served in the military, born since the 60s and forward, has had a bad experience fighting in Lebanon, the political commentator added. “And by the way, before October 7 [2023], the main military threat against Israel was seen as Hezbollah, an extremely sensitive topic.”

Now, the Israeli public has an idea that Israel could not dismantle a military group, and it could not disarm it after promising that for two and a half years, and ending up in a peace agreement with Lebanon, said Shhadeh.

“Up until the last minutes of the ceasefire, the Israeli cities in the north were getting bombed,” Shhadeh said. “This projects that Hezbollah is still powerful, and Israel couldn’t disarm it.”

16 Apr 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)
Houthi

Israeli military warns south Lebanon residents to remain north of Litani river despite ceasefire

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee has issued an “urgent message” to the residents of southern Lebanon, warning them to remain north of the Litani River despite the commencement of the ceasefire.

In a statement on X, Adraee said that while the ceasefire agreement has entered its implementation phase, Israeli forces are maintaining their current positions to counter what he described as “ongoing terrorist activities” by Hezbollah.

“Until further notice, you are requested not to move south of the Litani River,” he said.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:50
 (22:50 GMT)

US stocks reach record highs following Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

Stock markets have closed for the day in the US, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes both closing at record highs for the second consecutive session.

Markets rallied on the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, with investors also closely monitoring a possible second meeting between officials from the US and Iran.

Oil prices have continued to climb as global supply buffers continue to dwindle with the key Strait of Hormuz still blockaded.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:40
 (22:40 GMT)
Analysis

‘Nobody is talking about peace’ in the Israeli public

We have been speaking with Abed Abou Shhadeh, a political commentator based in Jaffa, about the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, wherein he earlier told us that people in Israeli cities, especially northern parts, are not necessarily joyful about the peace agreement.

“The word ‘peace’ has not existed in the Israeli political lexicon for the past 15 years,” Shhadeh told Al Jazeera.

“Common sense says that any country should aspire for peace with its neighbours. Unfortunately, among the Israeli public, nobody is talking about peace,” he said. “Nobody is talking about real diplomatic negotiation.”

On the contrary, what the Israeli leaders have said, including that the borders of Israel should be up to the Litani River, is unfortunate, the political commentator added.

“It is also very childish that they even think that everything could be achieved through military force,” he concluded.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

Jordan, UAE welcome Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs has welcomed the ceasefire announcement by US President Donald Trump, commending the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and other officials in the negotiations.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated its “firm support” for the Lebanese state in asserting its sovereignty over all its territory, ensuring that arms remain exclusively in the hands of the state, and reactivating its national institutions.

The United Arab Emirates has also welcomed the ceasefire agreement, praising the diplomatic efforts that led to the breakthrough.

In a statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it hoped that the development would represent a positive step towards fostering a supportive environment for regional stability and underscored the importance of continued international coordination to prevent further escalation.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:20
 (22:20 GMT)

UN chief welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire; calls for ‘long-term solution’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, expressing hope that the truce will serve as a foundation for permanent stability in the Middle East.

In a statement published on X, he said: “I hope this will pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive peace in the region.”

“I urge everyone to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with international law at all times,” he said.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:10
 (22:10 GMT)
Analysis

‘Trump forced Israel into a ceasefire’ with Lebanon

Abed Abou Shhadeh, a political commentator based in Jaffa, Israel, has been speaking with Al Jazeera on the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. He said the agreement is “extremely problematic, not only for Netanyahu, but for the Israeli public who were promised for two and a half years now, absolute victory”.

“People in northern Israel are extremely disappointed, who are potential voters for Netanyahu. They didn’t expect it, nor did they expect that Donald Trump would announce this ceasefire,” the political commentator said.

Netanyahu is now also “in a fight over the narrative of what just happened here, how Trump forced Israel into a ceasefire, while Hezbollah is still armed and still very close to the northern Israeli borders,” Shhadeh said.

16 Apr 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

G7 finance ministers say its ‘urgent’ to limit economic cost of prolonged conflict

G7 finance ministers say it is “urgent” to limit the global economic costs of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

The ministers were meeting with central bank governors in Washington and released a statement following their meeting.

“G7 members reaffirmed the pressing need to move toward a lasting peace,” it said.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:55
 (21:55 GMT)
Houthi

Ceasefire violations reported as Israeli artillery shelling, aerial surveillance persist

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that despite the ceasefire officially entering into force less than an hour ago, Israeli artillery continues to shell the towns of Khiam and Dibbine in southern Lebanon.

The shelling is reportedly accompanied by sweeping operations involving machinegun fire in the area. Additionally, in the western Bekaa Valley, the NNA reported intense activity by Israeli reconnaissance aircraft over the Rashaya region and the western slopes of Jabal al-Sheikh.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:50
 (21:50 GMT)

Ceasefire begins in Lebanon after final hour of intense escalation

By Heidi Pett

Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

The ceasefire is technically in effect, but certainly, the last hour did not look like a de-escalation; in fact, it looked almost like an escalation.

There were dozens of Israeli air strikes across the south of Lebanon in the hour before the ceasefire took effect.

Hezbollah continued to claim attacks on Israeli troops, both inside Lebanon and also across the border. They targeted a settlement where they said there was Israeli military infrastructure.

Minutes into the ceasefire, so let’s see if that holds, if the front goes quiet. Obviously, many people here are hoping for that.

Israel’s military activity today, they announced that they had struck 380 what they described as Hezbollah targets across the country in the last 24 hours, so … it appears to have been both sides getting in as much damage as they possibly can before this pause, which everybody hopes does hold.

There’s been fireworks and celebratory gunfire audible and sporadic bursts across Beirut tonight, down here by the waterfront, where many displaced people are still sleeping on the streets.

People here are nervously waiting to see if it’s safe to start moving back to their homes, whether they try and start doing that tonight, against the advice of Hezbollah and also the Amal Movement, who’ve said that people need to be patient, to see how this actually plays out.

They are asking people to refrain from going home, but speaking to people across Beirut tonight, some have indicated their intention to start doing so, no matter what.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)

Qatar welcomes ‘initial step towards de-escalation’ in Lebanon

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed “the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon and consider it an initial step toward de-escalation”.

The ministry said it was a “necessity” that the terms of the ceasefire were adhered to, ensuring the “de-escalation and preventing the expansion of the area of tension”.

The statement also said that Qatar was appreciative of President Trump’s “efforts in the mediation that contributed to reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon”.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Iranian Kurdish opposition base in Iraq’s Erbil targeted by Iranian drones

The Kurdish news platform Rudaw reports that the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an opposition group based in Koya in the eastern Erbil province of Iraq, came under several drone attacks on Thursday evening.

According to a statement issued by the group and cited by Rudaw, the strikes occurred at approximately 9:10pm local time (18:10 GMT). The PDKI has blamed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the assault.

The latest strikes bring the total number of attacks against the group’s camp to 110 since the commencement of the US-Israel war on Iran, according to Rudaw’s reporting.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:20
 (21:20 GMT)
Developing

Iran welcomes Israel-Lebanon truce as part of US ceasefire deal

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as part of a broader agreement with the US to pause the regional war.

State media reported that ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei framed the truce as linked to the earlier two-week ceasefire arrangement between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Pakistan.

“[Iran welcomes] the announcement of the ceasefire in Lebanon and noted that the cessation of the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire understanding between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan,” said Baghaei.

16 Apr 2026 - 21:10
 (21:10 GMT)

Sectarian fears increase as a Beirut area says no to displacement centre

By Justin Salhani

Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

In late March, a government-planned centre in Beirut’s Karantina neighbourhood for people displaced by Israel’s war was cancelled after a public outcry.

A number of politicians and protesters were opposed to setting up the centre, citing a number of reasons, including increased traffic to the area near Beirut’s port and health concerns.

But there were also sectarian motivations with some of Karantina’s Christian population leading objections to housing the displaced, who are predominantly Shia Muslims, citing demographic concerns and using sectarian slogans reminiscent of language used during the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War.

A major source of tension is that Israel has targeted displaced Lebanese, leading many to fear that hosting their compatriots may bring increased danger to their own homes and families. There is also extreme polarisation over the war inside Lebanon.

Supporters of Hezbollah, the Shia armed group that has been fighting Israel, say it avoided war for 15 months while Israel repeatedly violated a November 2024 ceasefire, while its critics accuse it of giving Israel an excuse to invade by launching attacks on Israel on March 2, leading to the forced displacement of 1.2 million people.

Read more here.

A boy sits next to a fire outside his family’s tent at a temporary encampment for displaced people in Beirut, Lebanon, April 1, 2026 [File: Adnan Abidi/Reuters]