UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the ten-day ceasefire announced between Israel and Lebanon and called on all parties to fully adhere to it. The ceasefire, declared on Thursday, was described by UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric as a positive development, with Guterres commending the role of the United States in facilitating the agreement.

According to the UN statement, Guterres expressed hope that the temporary truce would pave the way for future negotiations. He emphasized that all sides must respect the ceasefire and uphold international law, particularly international humanitarian law. The appeal is understood to extend not only to Israel and Lebanon but also to the Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah.

The UN chief’s remarks highlight the organization’s continued engagement in promoting stability in the region and encouraging dialogue among conflicting parties.

Reports from Lebanon’s state news agency said that the newly declared ceasefire was allegedly violated less than an hour after it took effect. According to the report, Israeli forces continued shelling the southern Lebanese towns of Khiam and Dibbin despite the ceasefire announcement.

The report further noted that heavy military activity, including machine-gun fire, was ongoing in those areas. In addition, Israeli surveillance aircraft were observed operating actively over the western Bekaa Valley, particularly around the Rashaya region and the western parts of Jabal al-Sheikh.

The information was attributed to Al Jazeera, which cited Lebanon’s state media as the source of the claims.

Pope Leo condemned what he described as a world ruled by autocrats following an online attack from former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Al Jazeera. Speaking during his visit to Cameroon, the Pope sharply criticized global leaders who spend hundreds of billions of dollars on wars, calling his remarks unusually forceful.

In his speech, Pope Leo said that war heroes pretend not to know that destruction takes only a moment, while rebuilding can take a lifetime. He added that leaders ignore the truth that vast sums are spent on killing and devastation, yet resources for healing, education, and recovery remain scarce.

The Pope’s comments were seen as a strong message to world leaders, urging them to invest more in humanitarian sectors instead of warfare.

The Israeli military claimed on Wednesday that it destroyed around 70 Hezbollah installations in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon. The statement, released on Telegram, came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was on the verge of eliminating Hezbollah’s main base in the region.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the military also intercepted a drone attack launched overnight from Lebanon. The IDF reported that Israeli naval crews shot down the drone and noted that since the start of the conflict, they have conducted about 40 defensive operations to protect the country’s airspace.

The developments reflect continued hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides engaging in aerial and ground operations as tensions remain high.

According to the Saudi government’s Hajj management roadmap, Bangladesh will begin its 2026 Hajj flights on April 18. Prime Minister Tarek Rahman will officially inaugurate the Hajj flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on April 17 at 11:35 p.m. The first flight, carrying 419 pilgrims, will depart for Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport at 12:20 a.m. on April 18. A total of 14 flights are scheduled for that day, operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudia, and Flynas.

In 2026, 78,500 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to perform Hajj, with 4,565 traveling under the government’s management and 73,935 through private agencies. Under the bilateral Hajj agreement, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will transport 50 percent of the pilgrims, while Saudia will carry 35 percent and Flynas 15 percent. The pre-Hajj flight phase will conclude on May 21 after 207 flights.

Return flights will begin on May 30 and continue until July 1, marking the end of the 2026 Hajj flight operations.

Turkey has called for constructive dialogue between the United States and Iran to help end their ongoing conflict. The Turkish government said it will continue supporting efforts aimed at establishing peace between the two sides, according to Al Jazeera. As a NATO member and neighbor of Iran, Turkey stated that it maintains regular contact with the U.S., Iran, and mediator Pakistan, repeatedly urging an end to hostilities.

During a weekly briefing, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said it would keep providing necessary assistance to turn the current ceasefire into lasting peace and prevent further complications. The ministry also expressed hope that all parties involved in the discussions would play constructive roles.

A Turkish diplomatic source added that the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are scheduled to meet later in the week in Antalya, southern Turkey, on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif is expected to visit Turkey after his trip to Qatar.

Lebanese television channel Al Jadeed reported that a potential tripartite phone conversation is being arranged between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States to discuss a possible ceasefire. According to the report, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to represent Washington in the talks. Diplomatic sources said mediators are attempting to establish contact between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The report noted that Rubio had earlier hosted the first meeting in decades between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington on Tuesday. However, there has been no official confirmation of the planned phone call. An Israeli minister told local media that Netanyahu would speak with Aoun, while Lebanese officials privately stated they were unaware of any such plan.

President Aoun said in a statement that a ceasefire with Israel would serve as a “natural gateway” for future direct negotiations, though he made no direct comment on the reported phone call.

The United States Navy has confirmed the loss of one of its most advanced and expensive drones, an MQ-4C Triton, which crashed over the Persian Gulf on April 9. The Navy’s Safety Command disclosed the incident in a report released on Tuesday but withheld the exact crash location for operational security reasons. According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the drone took off from the Sigonella naval base in Italy and went missing while flying over the Persian Gulf.

Data showed that the drone suddenly dropped from 50,000 feet to 9,000 feet before losing all communication. It first transmitted a '7400' signal, indicating loss of contact with ground control, and about 70 minutes later sent a '7700' emergency signal before disappearing from radar at 9,250 feet. The Navy has not yet provided any explanation for the cause of the crash.

The report, citing CNN, marks a rare public acknowledgment of a high-value drone loss by the US military in the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will begin tonight at 21:00 GMT. The announcement was made through a post on Truth Social, where Trump said he had held 'excellent' discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Trump, both leaders agreed to formally begin the ceasefire at 5:00 p.m. EST to pursue peace between their countries.

Trump also stated that representatives from Israel and Lebanon met in Washington on Tuesday for the first time in 34 years, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio present. He added that he had directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Rubio, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to work with both nations to ensure lasting peace.

Trump described resolving nine global conflicts as an honor and said this would be his tenth, expressing determination to complete the effort.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, during which he expressed gratitude for Trump’s efforts to promote a ceasefire in Lebanon. The Lebanese presidential office confirmed the call, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, Aoun thanked Trump for his initiatives aimed at establishing a ceasefire and ensuring long-term peace and stability in Lebanon.

The official statement added that President Aoun reiterated the urgent need to establish a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah “as soon as possible.” It was also reported that Trump expressed his support for Lebanon and for President Aoun personally. The exchange is being viewed as part of broader diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

The phone call highlights renewed international engagement in seeking to end hostilities in the region, though the source did not specify any concrete outcomes or next steps following the discussion.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun stated that a ceasefire with Israel would serve as a natural entry point for future direct negotiations between the two countries. He made the remarks during a meeting with the British Minister of State for Middle East Affairs, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a statement later shared on social media, Aoun said Lebanon seeks to end tensions across all regions, including the south, to stop attacks on civilians and the destruction of homes in villages and cities.

Aoun emphasized that any potential talks with Israel should be conducted solely through Lebanese authorities to preserve national sovereignty. He also highlighted that the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory is a key step toward implementing a ceasefire. Additionally, he mentioned redeploying the Lebanese army up to the international border to halt any armed presence.

The report noted that establishing a ceasefire could play a significant role in improving future Israel-Lebanon relations if successfully implemented.

UK Minister for Middle East Affairs Hamish Falconer has called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, emphasizing that the ongoing conflict was not initiated by Lebanon. He welcomed the start of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, describing them as a positive step toward de-escalation. Falconer made the remarks on April 16, 2026, according to Al Jazeera.

Falconer stated that recent attacks in Lebanon have had devastating effects on civilians. He urged Hezbollah to stop firing and disarm, stressing that the exclusive right to use force in Lebanon should rest solely with the Lebanese government. However, he did not mention Israel’s attacks, which have reportedly killed more than 2,100 people and displaced over one million since the conflict intensified earlier in the month.

Reports also indicated that following a meeting in the United States between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors, both countries agreed to begin direct negotiations, signaling a potential diplomatic opening amid the violence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is viewing Lebanon as his last opportunity to achieve a military victory, according to analyst Ori Goldberg, as reported by Al Jazeera. The statement comes amid Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah, which began in 1982 and has continued for decades both inside Lebanon and along Israel’s northern border.

Israel maintains that despite some past successes, Hezbollah remains a major threat to its northern region. The Israeli military has been targeting infrastructure in southern Lebanon and exerting military pressure aimed at disarming the Lebanese state. Analysts note that Lebanon’s weak military and its shifting political balance among Christian, Sunni, and Shia groups make it a vulnerable target for Israel’s strategic ambitions.

The report underscores that Lebanon’s proximity to Israel’s most persistent military adversary continues to shape the dynamics of the conflict, suggesting that the current campaign may represent a decisive phase in Israel’s long-standing struggle with Hezbollah.

Tehran University associate professor Fouad Izadi stated that Iran has the capability to counter the United States’ naval blockade. His remarks came in response to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who said the US is destroying Iran’s economic capacity. Izadi told Al Jazeera that Miller may have overlooked Iran’s nearly six thousand square kilometers of land borders and emphasized that Iran’s northern and eastern neighbors are assisting the country, making it impossible for the US to suffocate it.

Izadi further argued that imposing a naval blockade is illegal under international law, as punishing civilians to achieve foreign policy goals is unjustified. He noted that such blockades are considered acts of aggression unless authorized by the UN Security Council, making the current US blockade of Iranian ports highly controversial.

According to the report, at least 2,076 people have been killed and 26,500 injured since the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began.

Israeli forces carried out large-scale raids, searches, and mass arrests across the occupied West Bank within the past 24 hours. The operations were conducted to secure routes for Jewish settlers, leading to multiple clashes with Palestinians in several areas. In eastern Nablus, troops launched a major operation near the Tomb of Prophet Yusuf to ensure safe passage for settler buses, during which direct gunfire was reported. A military checkpoint on Al-Badhan Road caused significant disruption to local traffic.

In Qalqilya, Israeli special forces arrested a Palestinian youth following an incursion, while additional raids were conducted in Ras Atiya to the south and Kafr Nima village west of Ramallah. A total of 25 Palestinians, including one woman, were detained during the 24-hour campaign. Meanwhile, settler attacks in Wadi Abbas and near Hebron left several Palestinians, including a child, injured and in need of medical treatment.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the continuing escalation of Israeli military and settler activities across the West Bank.