ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic development rocking the Middle East, Israel has signalled willingness to curb its military operations in Lebanon following intense US pressure tied to a fragile two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran.
The move comes hours after conflicting interpretations emerged over whether the US-Iran truce, mediated partly by Pakistan, extends to the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the ceasefire includes an immediate halt to fighting everywhere, explicitly encompassing Lebanon, with follow-up talks scheduled in Islamabad on April 10.
Regional media reports highlighted this claim as a key authentication point, noting that Iran and Pakistan both asserted the deal covers cessation of Israeli actions against Hezbollah targets.
Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office swiftly clarified that while Israel backs the suspension of strikes on Iran, the agreement “does not include Lebanon.”
US President Donald Trump reinforced this position, describing operations in Lebanon as a “separate skirmish” involving Hezbollah that falls outside the core US-Iran understanding.
Despite the clarification, diplomatic sources indicate behind-the-scenes US pressure has prompted Israel to consider de-escalation steps in southern Lebanon to safeguard broader negotiations.
Israeli forces launched one of their largest barrages since early March, striking over 100 targets across Beirut, southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley within just 10 minutes on Wednesday.
Lebanese health authorities reported at least 182 people killed and hundreds wounded in the wave of airstrikes, marking one of the deadliest days in recent escalation.
The attacks targeted alleged Hezbollah infrastructure but hit residential and commercial areas without prior warning, according to local officials.
UNIFIL records from the previous November 2024 ceasefire onward documented more than 10,000 Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and 1,400 military activities inside Lebanese territory by late February 2026.
Since the original 2024 truce, Israeli airstrikes numbered around 669, eliminating over 350 Hezbollah operatives, according to Israeli-linked research centres.
The latest flare-up risks unravelling the fragile US-Iran pause, which requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt attacks on US, Israeli and regional targets.
Oil prices reacted sharply, with Brent crude futures fluctuating near $72 per barrel amid fears of renewed disruption in global energy supplies.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and senior officials condemned the strikes as a “very dangerous turning point,” urging the United States and France to exert stronger influence on Israel.
The Arab League secretary general called on Washington to compel Israel to cease operations immediately, warning of wider regional destabilisation.
Over one million people have been displaced in Lebanon since intensified Israeli ground operations began in March 2026, with total deaths exceeding 1,500 and thousands more injured since the broader escalation.
Hezbollah has maintained high-intensity rocket and drone barrages targeting northern and central Israel, adding pressure on Israeli defences.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that operations aim to create a defensive buffer up to the Litani River and change the security reality in southern Lebanon.
Critics, including UN experts, have repeatedly warned that continued Israeli strikes undermine Lebanese Armed Forces efforts to implement disarmament under UN Resolution 1701.
The 2024 ceasefire, brokered by the US and France, mandated Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah relocation north of the Litani River, and deployment of Lebanese troops with international monitoring.
Implementation remained incomplete, with Israel retaining presence at five sites and conducting near-daily operations.
Pakistan’s mediation role in the latest US-Iran deal has drawn international attention, positioning Islamabad as a key diplomatic bridge in the crisis.
Talks in Islamabad are expected to address not only the Iran nuclear and missile concerns but also de-escalation pathways for Lebanon.
Analysts note that any Israeli restraint in Lebanon could be tactical, aimed at preserving US leverage in upcoming negotiations rather than a permanent policy shift.
The White House has indicated that Israel offered to “check themselves a little bit” in Lebanon to support the broader deal, though no formal commitment to a full halt has been confirmed publicly.
Iran has demanded clarity from the US on Lebanon’s inclusion, threatening potential withdrawal from the two-week truce if attacks continue unchecked.
With casualties mounting and diplomatic channels active, the coming days will test whether US pressure can translate into tangible reductions in violence along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Regional observers warn that failure to align interpretations of the ceasefire could trigger a dangerous chain reaction across multiple fronts, from the Gulf to the Levant.