meaningful news<\/a>) – US President Donald J. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect at midnight local time after Trump announced it, although there remains uncertainty over whether the truce will hold.<\/p>\nTrump said Friday he was inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House, their first direct talks in more than 30 years.<\/p>\n
Aon had refused to talk to Netanyahu just hours earlier. However, the two governments eventually agreed to a ceasefire after more than a month of fighting following deadly clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Israeli air strikes have killed nearly 2,200 people in Lebanon, according to local officials. Israel says it targets “Hezbollah terrorists” who often hide in civilian buildings.<\/p>\n
However, news of the ceasefire spread to Israel’s northern communities, while witnesses said sirens were sounded three times overnight to warn of incoming rockets from Lebanon.<\/p>\n
ceasefire under tension<\/strong><\/p>\nLucy Williamson, the BBC’s Middle East correspondent in Nahriya, said: “In the skies above the northern city of Nahriya, Israel’s air defense interceptors shot them down, causing loud explosions. Ambulance workers said at least three people were hit by shrapnel in the hours before the ceasefire took effect, two of them seriously.”<\/p>\n
“There is skepticism on the ground here and across the country as to why Israel’s leader has signed the ceasefire,” he said, referring to Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
In Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, residents expressed hope and reservations about the ceasefire, two days after Washington held its first direct diplomatic talks in decades.<\/p>\n
Tel Aviv resident Eyal Rosovsky said, “I think it is in the best interests of both Israel and Lebanon to have a ceasefire, and hopefully both countries will be wise enough to keep it.”<\/p>\n
On the other side of the border, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling “continued” on the villages of Khiyam and Dibbin on Friday, about half an hour after the ceasefire began.<\/p>\n
Violation reported<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Lebanese army reiterated its warning to displaced residents against returning to southern Lebanon due to intermittent shelling.<\/p>\n
Israel’s military said early Friday it was looking into “reports of shelling and artillery fire” in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n
The terms of the ceasefire, provided by the US State Department, prevent Israel from taking aggressive military action in Lebanon. However, they appear to leave room for “self-defense”, including action against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”<\/p>\n
Despite alleged violations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Guterres said he hoped the ceasefire would pave the way for negotiations for a long-term solution to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.<\/p>\n
regional risk<\/strong><\/p>\nHe said Guterres praised the United States for facilitating the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations’ support “for all efforts to end hostilities and the suffering of people on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border,” Dujarric said.<\/p>\n
However, concerns remained over a separate ceasefire involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.<\/p>\n
Pakistan’s army chief met Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday to take forward that separate ceasefire arrangement.<\/p>\n
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![\"Lebanon](\"https:\/\/worthynews-1fe3e.kxcdn.com\/wordpressimages\/2026\/01\/lebanon-flag-map-worthy-christian-news-320x180.jpg\" "\\"10-day")
Stephen J. By Bose, Chief International Correspondent of Worthy News<\/p>\n