A truce took hold Friday between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, providing relief on both sides of the border and an opening for Iran and the United States to reach a deal to end the wider war. The ceasefire appears to have paved the way for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing the global energy crisis. But major obstacles remain, as Hezbollah has not formally agreed to the truce and wants Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israel says it is "not finished" dismantling the Iran-backed militant group and shows no sign of ending its occupation.
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB, AAMER MADHANI and ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels. But President Donald Trump says the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports will stay in force until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Friday on X that the crucial waterway is now fully open to commercial vessels. This comes as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appears to hold. Trump initially celebrated the Iranian announcement. But minutes later, he issued another post saying the U.S. Navy's blockade would continue.
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB and MATTHEW LEE Associated Press
Lebanon and Israel have held direct diplomatic talks for the first time in decades. Tuesday's more than two-hour meeting at the State Department came after more than a month of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the talks a "historic opportunity," while Israel's ambassador to the U.S. hailed what he called a convergence of opinion about removing Hezbollah's influence from Lebanon. Hezbollah opposed the direct talks and wasn't represented. There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese side. The Lebanese government hopes the talks will lead to an end to the war, which has killed over 2,000 people there.
A senior Hezbollah official says the Lebanese militant group will not abide by any agreements made in upcoming direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in the United States. The talks, which are to start on Tuesday, will be the first in decades. Hezbollah opposes these negotiations, viewing Israel as an enemy. Lebanese officials hope for a ceasefire, while Israel is seeking Hezbollah's disarmament and a potential peace agreement. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah's political council, told The Associated Press in a rare interview on Monday that Hezbollah is "not interested in or concerned with" these negotiations in the U.S.
Friday marks six months since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect, but progress remains limited. The fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants has mostly stopped, yet challenges persist. Disarming Hamas, deploying an international stabilization force and beginning reconstruction are pending. The U.S.-created Board of Peace has not met since its initial meeting, and Hamas has not responded to a disarmament proposal. Such challenges could represent what's to come in the latest war in the Middle East, as U.S. President Donald Trump's approach to peacemaking appears to focus on stopping bombardment while leaving the bigger picture for others to work out.
By SALLY ABOU ALJOUD and KAREEM CHEHAYEB Associated Press
Lebanon is reeling after the deadliest day of renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The death toll has exceeded 300 as more bodies are found. Israel has authorized direct talks with Lebanon despite no diplomatic ties. The Health Ministry on Thursday reported 1,150 wounded in strikes that rocked Lebanon on Wednesday including busy parts of Beirut. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah. Israel's military targeted Hezbollah sites. But strikes hit densely packed areas that led to civilian casualties. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the attacks "barbaric." The conflict has displaced more than a million people.
By AAMER MADHANI, WILL WEISSERT, JOSH BOAK and FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press
Over the course of a single day, President Donald Trump went from threatening Iran with "annihilation" to proclaiming that Iran's leadership had presented a "workable" plan that led him to agree to a two-week ceasefire. Trump says he expects this to pave the way to end the nearly six-week war with Iran. Trump's shift came as intermediaries led by Pakistan worked to head off a further escalation. Even China quietly pulled strings to urge Iran to find a path toward a ceasefire. Trump was meeting Wednesday with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, with the Strait of Hormuz expected to be a focus.
By KAREEM CHEHAYEB and ABBY SEWELL Associated Press
Updated
Israeli strikes have hit central Beirut without warning, causing panic after the announcement of the ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Wednesday's strikes in the Lebanese capital came after Israel said the ceasefire does not apply to its fight with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. President Donald Trump later said Lebanon was not included in the deal. Israel's military said it hit over 100 targets in Beirut and other areas. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded. Associated Press journalists saw charred bodies in cars at one of the capital's busiest intersections. Hezbollah has not agreed to the ceasefire. Displaced families face uncertainty.
By WAFAA SHURAFA, TOQA EZZIDIN and CARA ANNA Associated Press
Palestinians in Gaza are reacting to a possible shift in the world's attention away from the Israel-Hamas ceasefire to a new regional conflict with Iran. Israel closed all crossings into the territory of over 2 million people in the wake of its new strikes on Tehran. The Israeli military body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza said it closed the crossings because they cannot not be safely operated under fire. It said crossings would reopen as soon as the security situation allows. Palestinians fear new lack of access to food and other basic necessities from the outside world. Memories of hunger during last year's Israeli blockade remain fresh. The latest conflict comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump rallied billions of dollars in pledges for Gaza's reconstruction.
