The ceasefire was announced April 7. By April 8, Israel had killed more than 350 people in Lebanon — a third of them women and children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. And then on April 9 came what observers are calling "Black Wednesday": more than 100 Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in a 10-minute window, killing more than 300 people. A Red Cross paramedic was among those killed that weekend. The ceasefire that was supposed to be the beginning of a path to peace explicitly excluded Lebanon from the start.
Netanyahu said it himself: "The battle in Lebanon continues and the ceasefire does not include Lebanon." The Israeli military spokesperson said the same. Israel has seized territory in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu visited those seized territories this weekend. And Hezbollah kept firing back — rockets, drones, and artillery into Israel and against Israeli troops inside Lebanon.
What the Ceasefire Actually Covers
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire covers U.S. and Iranian military operations against each other. It reopens — in theory — the Strait of Hormuz. It pauses the direct strikes on Iran. What it does not cover: Israel's operations in Lebanon, Hezbollah's rocket attacks on northern Israel, or the ground war in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces have seized and are holding territory. Lebanon's prime minister spent Orthodox Easter calling for the country to "overcome the dangers facing us." He wasn't talking about Hezbollah. He was talking about Israeli bombs.
Netanyahu explicitly stated Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire deal and said Hezbollah "will need to be dealt with." Israel's military spokesperson confirmed the same. France has called for Lebanon to be included in a broader ceasefire. Britain has called for a toll-free Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon to be part of the ceasefire framework. The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington are scheduled to hold their first direct meeting Tuesday at the State Department. The ceasefire doesn't cover it. The killing continues while the diplomats meet.
Trump's Response
Trump said Israel would "reduce its attacks in Lebanon." Attacks continued through the weekend. Israel killed more than 200 Hezbollah targets on a single weekend, per the Israeli military. A wounded Hezbollah commander told NPR his group has maintained its command structure and kept firing. The ceasefire that Trump is claiming as a win is holding together nothing in Lebanon.
The war didn't pause. It relocated. While everyone was watching Iran, Lebanon was burning. 300 people dead in 10 minutes. That's not collateral damage. That's a policy.
What This Means for the Ceasefire
Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of violating the ceasefire specifically because of the Lebanon strikes. Iran's position — stated to the Islamabad talks — was that a ceasefire that doesn't include Lebanon isn't a real ceasefire. That was one of the fracture points in the Islamabad negotiations. When Vance walked out Sunday morning with no deal, the Lebanon question was part of the impasse. Meanwhile, Israel is telling Lebanon's representatives to come to Washington to discuss terms — while simultaneously bombing the country. That's the posture of a power that knows it has unconditional U.S. support regardless of what it does. And so far, it's been right.
Sources
- Democracy Now!: "10 Minutes of Terror" — Lebanon death toll tops 300 from "Black Wednesday" — 100+ strikes in 10 minutes; death toll figures.
- NPR: Red Cross paramedic among dead; Israel 200+ Hezbollah targets struck; wounded Hezbollah commander interview; Lebanese PM Orthodox Easter statement; ambassador talks scheduled.
- CNN: Netanyahu "battle in Lebanon continues"; ceasefire does not include Lebanon confirmed; Israel Lebanon ceasefire talks Tuesday at State Dept; France calls for Lebanon inclusion.
- TIME: 350+ killed in Lebanon day after ceasefire announced; third were women and children; Lebanon health ministry figures.