BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) \u2014 A 10-day truce began in Lebanon on Friday that could pause fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war.<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants inside the country, who were not formally part of the agreement.<\/p>\n
Barrages of gunshots rang out across Beirut as residents fired into the air just after midnight to celebrate the beginning of the truce. <\/p>\n
Displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs, despite warnings by officials not to attempt to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold. <\/p>\n
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire \u201cto advance\u201d peace efforts with Lebanon, but said Israeli troops would not withdraw.<\/p>\n
Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah in the border area as they pushed into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a \u201csecurity zone.\u201d Netanyahu, in his video address, said it will extend 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is where we are, and we are not leaving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah said that \u201cIsraeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it, and this matter will be determined based on how developments unfold\u201d \u2014 a stance that could complicate the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Israel reserves right to defend itself<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department said that according to the agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself \u201cat any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.\u201d But otherwise, Israel \u201cwill not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets.\u201d <\/p>\n
The wording suggested Israel would maintain the freedom to strike at will, as it did in the months following the ceasefire that ended the previous war. This time, Hezbollah said it would respond to any strikes by Israel. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear when the 1 million people displaced by the war will be able to safely return. <\/p>\n
Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News agency reported that Israeli shelling continued in the villages of Khiam and Dibbine about a half hour after the truce went into effect. Israel\u2019s military said it was looking into reports of shelling and artillery fire in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah kept firing rockets at northern Israeli towns and communities right up to the start of the ceasefire. Air raid sirens went off in some often-targeted border towns less than 10 minutes before midnight. <\/p>\n
Flurry of diplomacy <\/p>\n
The agreement came after a meeting between Israel\u2019s and Lebanon\u2019s ambassadors in Washington and a flurry of subsequent phone calls from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a White House official.<\/p>\n
They were the first direct diplomatic talks between the two countries in decades. Hezbollah had opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump spoke Wednesday evening with Netanyahu, who agreed to a ceasefire with certain terms, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n
Rubio then called Lebanon\u2019s president, Joseph Aoun, who got on board. Trump then spoke with Aoun, and again with Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
The State Department worked with both governments to formulate a memorandum of understanding for the truce.<\/p>\n
Trump extends White House invitation<\/p>\n
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.<\/p>\n
Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump also invited the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House for what he said would be \u201cthe first meaningful talks\u201d between the countries since 1983.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly,\u201d Trump wrote on social media.<\/p>\n
Lebanon and Israel signed an agreement in 1983 saying Lebanon would formally recognize Israel, and Israel would withdraw from Lebanon. The deal fell apart during Lebanon\u2019s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.<\/p>\n
A Hezbollah official said the ceasefire was a result of Iran\u2019s negotiations with the U.S., in which Iran had insisted Lebanon be included in its own ceasefire, and came about through efforts by mediator Pakistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.<\/p>\n
Pakistan army chief meets with Iranian parliament speaker<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \n AP AUDIO: Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire\n <\/p>\n AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the military\u2019s top officer says a Navy blockade of Iranian ports is working so far.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Pakistan\u2019s army chief met Thursday with Iran\u2019s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused almost seven weeks of war<\/a> between Israel, the U.S. and Iran.<\/p>\n It was unclear whether the frantic diplomacy could lead to a lasting deal before the ceasefire ends next week. The Iran war has killed thousands of people and upended global markets<\/a> by disrupting the flow of oil.<\/p>\n Iranian state television did not provide details on the meeting between Pakistani Army Gen. Asim Munir<\/a> and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, his country\u2019s chief negotiator.<\/p>\n There was no immediate comment from Pakistan, a key mediator<\/a> after hosting the talks between the U.S. and Iran that authorities said helped narrow differences between the sides.<\/p>\n The White House said any further talks regarding Iran would likely take place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad<\/a>, though no decision had been made on whether to resume negotiations. The fragile ceasefire is holding despite a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports<\/a> and Iranian counter-threats to target regional ports across the Red Sea.<\/p>\n Trump suggested the ceasefire could be extended.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019re close to a deal, would I extend?\u201d Trump said in an exchange with reporters. \u201cYeah, I would do that.\u201d<\/p>\n The war has jolted markets and rattled the global economy<\/a> as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have pounded military and civilian infrastructure<\/a>. Oil prices have fallen<\/a> amid hopes for an end to fighting, and U.S. stocks on Wednesday surpassed records<\/a> set in January.<\/p>\n Officials say US and Iran are making progress<\/p>\n