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* Returnees go back to areas that were pounded by Israel* Trump says US bans Israel from further bombing of Lebanon* Hezbollah credits Iranian pressure for ceasefire* Israel continues home demolitions in south, defence minister says (Adds Trump comment in paragraphs 2, 15-16, report of drone strike in paragraph 4, amended source in paragraph 4 to Lebanon’s health ministry, Hezbollah lawmakers statement in paragraph 10, Iranian foreign minister comments in paragraph 11) BEIRUT/QASMIYEH/JERUSALEM, LebanonPeople uprooted by the war in Lebanon began returning to devastated towns and neighbourhoods on Friday, with many finding their homes destroyed or uninhabitable and hesitant to stay for fear a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel could unravel.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States had banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, a day after he announced the 10-day ceasefire. The agreement between Lebanon and Israel has added to optimism that the parallel war between the United States and Iran could be nearing an end.While Trump says Lebanon and Israel will work towards a longer-term deal, the ceasefire leaves big questions. Notably, it does not demand Israel withdraw soldiers occupying parts of the south, where Israel’s defence minister said Israeli troops would continue to demolish homes he claimed were being used by Hezbollah. Iran-backed Hezbollah, which operates independently of the Lebanese state, has said it maintains “the right to resist”.Late on Friday, an Israeli strike killed at least one person in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese health ministry said. The Israeli military said it was checking the report.SMELL OF DEATHIn the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, hills of rubble stood where there had once been apartment blocks and the smell of death hung in the air. Ali Hamza said he found his home intact, but that people were scared to return for now.”It is impossible to live in these circumstances, and with these smells. A full return is difficult now, despite the hardship of displacement.” He had gathered school books from the house: “We lost everything; we don’t want them to lose the school year.”In Qasmiyeh in southern Lebanon, cars were driving across a makeshift crossing over the Litani River, hastily erected after the ceasefire came into effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT). Israel destroyed all the bridges over the Litani during the war, blowing up the one at Qasmiyeh on Thursday.Hezbollah expressed “cautious commitment” to the ceasefire on Friday, but said it must ensure that all Israeli hostilities stop and limit the Israeli military’s “freedom of movement” in Lebanon. The group’s lawmakers also said the ceasefire “was primarily achieved due to Iranian pressure”.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz was open following the agreement of the Lebanon ceasefire. Writing on X, he said that it was open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the 10-day truce.TRUMP SAYS ISRAEL “PROHIBITED” FROM BOMBING LEBANONLebanon was dragged into war on March 2, when Hezbollah opened fire at Israel in support of Iran, sparking an Israeli offensive that authorities say has killed nearly 2,300 people and displaced 1.2 million, just 16 months after the last Hezbollah-Israel war. Hezbollah’s Shi’ite Muslim constituents have borne the brunt once again.Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel. Two Israeli civilians and 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the hostilities, Israel says.In a social media post, Trump said “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer”.”They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” he said.Earlier, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said territory south of the Litani, which meets the Mediterranean 30 km (20 miles) north of the Israeli border, had yet to be cleared of Hezbollah militants and arms.”This will have to be done politically or through the continuation of the IDF’s military activity after the ceasefire ends,” he said.Katz said Israeli forces would continue to hold seized territory, saying Israel had established a “security zone” extending 10 km (6 miles) into Lebanon.Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, whose administration this week held Beirut’s highest-level contact with Israel in decades, said Lebanon faced “sensitive and pivotal” negotiations with Israel.He said his focus was to ensure the ceasefire stood, Israel withdrew, and prisoners were released.The Lebanese government has sought Hezbollah’s peaceful disarmament for a year, and banned its military activities on March 2. Any move by the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah by force would risk conflict in a country shattered by civil war from 1975 to 1990.Israel’s main demand remained that Hezbollah must be dismantled, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.Trump said Lebanon on Thursday had agreed to “take care of Hezbollah”.”IT’S UNLIVEABLE”Israel ordered residents out of swathes of the south during the war.”There’s destruction and it’s unliveable. Unliveable. We’re taking our things and leaving again,” said Fadel Badreddine, who was visiting the largely destroyed southern city of Nabatieh with his wife and son.An Israeli military source said that “at this stage, Lebanese civilians are not yet permitted to return to southern Lebanon.” The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the military was prepared to defend Israeli communities from “forward defense positions within Lebanon.”Lina Khatib, an associate fellow at the Chatham House policy institute in London, said it was likely there would be “a continuation of Israeli activity in southern Lebanon to bolster its objective of establishing a buffer zone”.”Even if there are military infringements of the terms of the ceasefire, this will not necessarily mean abandoning the different stakeholders’ political commitment to the ceasefire terms,” she said.The Lebanese army reported ceasefire violations by Israel, including intermittent shelling of several southern Lebanese villages, and urged citizens to hold off on returning to southern villages and towns.There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. 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Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi has welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire in Lebanon. In a statement issued on Thursday, Al Budaiwi reaffirmed the GCC’s firm support for Lebanon, stressing its commitment to the country’s sovereignty, security, and stability. He also expressed support for the decisions of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government aimed at achieving security, peace, prosperity, and development for the Lebanese people Source link
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced Friday that the death toll from the Israeli aggression on Lebanon since March 2 has reached 2,294, with 7,544 injured. The ministry noted that this is not a final count. The Lebanese Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center explained in a statement that the toll includes 100 paramedics and healthcare workers killed, in addition to 233 injured. US President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that an agreement had been reached for a ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. Source link
Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon.The passage of vessels through the strait will be on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of Iran, Abbas Araqchi added in a post on X. Source link
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, Thursday. (Reuters) US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 5pm EST (2100 GMT), raising hopes of a pause in the parallel conflict to the wider US-Iran war — even as fierce fighting continued on the ground in southern Lebanon. The US State Department confirmed the truce was to take effect Thursday, adding that the ceasefire period could be extended by mutual agreement if negotiations toward a permanent security and peace arrangement were still under way. Trump said he had held “excellent” conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the announcement, and indicated the two leaders would likely visit the White House within days. “As of two hours from now, we have a ceasefire with Israel and Lebanon. And that’ll be great. And they’ll be meeting — probably coming to the White House — over the next four or five days,” he told reporters. The US president said he had directed Vice-President J D Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine to work with both countries toward lasting peace. “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” he wrote on Truth Social. Related Story Source link
Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf Times The Arabian Gulf today pursues a balanced diplomatic policy grounded in calls for negotiation and support for political processes aimed at ending the conflict, thereby reinforcing the principle of good neighbourliness and enhancing regional stability, including backing the ongoing mediation between the United States and Iran by Pakistan.At the same time, the Arabian Gulf categorically rejects all forms of wanton aggression, and makes clear that any attempt to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz or use it as a pressure card is entirely unacceptable. The Gulf states cannot and will not be held hostage under any circumstances.Imposing restrictions or levies on freedom of navigation through the strait constitutes a flagrant violation of international law: the Strait of Hormuz is a natural waterway governed by the law of the sea, which guarantees freedom of passage, and it cannot be treated as a channel subject to sovereign control or political extortion.Any attempt to impose a new reality or alter its legal status will be met with firm rejection. It is a vital artery for global energy security and international economic stability.It bears recalling that the other shore of the strait is not the preserve of a single party. The Sultanate of Oman overlooks it through the Musandam Governorate, and UAE islands are also present there. This is a reality that reflects the complex geographical and legal character of the strait, and confirms the impossibility of monopolising or controlling this critical waterway.Iran today, finds itself in a state of growing international isolation as a result of its escalation and its attacks on the Gulf states, which have cost it much of the regional sympathy it once enjoyed. We affirm that no attack can be legally justified under the pretext of “self-defence”. Targeting the Gulf states constitutes aggression, plain and simple.In this context, it is worth noting that the continuation of tension serves multiple parties whether directly or indirectly at the expense of regional stability. Iran’s policies in the region, including support for armed groups, the undermining of good-neighbourliness, and the stoking of conflicts, run counter to the principle of collective security. Security must be either universal or it will not exist at all.The Gulf states are not a party to the American–Israeli–Iranian war, and they will not fall into that trap. It is therefore essential to pursue strategic courses of action, foremost among them the establishment of a joint defence architecture along the lines of a “Gulf Nato,” with the possibility of regional powers such as Turkiye or Pakistan joining to strengthen collective deterrence.Equally urgent is the acceleration of a regional network for the transmission of gas, oil, electricity, and water, linking the Gulf states and extending through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea, through Oman to the Arabian Sea, and potentially to the Mediterranean via Syria — diversifying energy routes and strengthening energy security.In the same vein, there is a pressing need to develop a transcontinental rail network connecting East Asia, including China, to Europe via the Arab region, facilitating trade flows, deepening economic integration, and reviving the region’s historic role as a global trade hub along the lines of the ancient Silk Roads.Such projects would reinforce stability and development, rather than leaving the door open to expansionist agendas or unilateral visions. Sustainable stability is also bound up with achieving a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian question on the basis of a two-state solution and United Nations resolutions.In this framework, it is important to adopt a unified Gulf foreign policy on regional and international issues, and to accelerate the implementation of regional transport projects such as the Gulf Railway and the Asia–Europe economic corridors. This would deepen economic integration among the Gulf states and strengthening their international standing.On the peace front, the Arab Peace Initiative must be upheld as a comprehensive framework for a full and just settlement. Genuine integration cannot be built without a unified policy, a shared defence architecture, and a clear collective deterrent.The message, in closing, remains constant: Arabian Gulf security is a red line, and its stability is a collective responsibility that admits no compromise. The Gulf states will remain steadfast in their right to protect their sovereignty and safeguard their interests by every legitimate means available. Related Story Source link
FILE PHOTO: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid…
Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the US if a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, a source briefed by Tehran said. The war has resulted in the largest-ever disruption of global oil and gas supplies due to Iran’s interruption of traffic through the strait, which handles about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows.The source adamant on maintaining anonymity said Iran could be willing to let ships use the other side of the narrow strait in Omani waters without any hindrance. The source did not say whether Iran would also agree to clear any mines it may have placed in that stretch of water or if all ships— even those linked to Israel—would be allowed to pass freely. It added that the proposal hinged on whether the US was prepared to meet Tehran’s demands, a condition that was central to a potential breakthrough with the strait. (Reuters) Source link
Wael Sabbagh, whose mother Afaf Sidaoui and brother Hassan, were killed in an Israeli strike on an apartment building on April 8, stands at the strike…
FILE PHOTO: A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province, April 12, 2026. REUTERS/File Photo By Florence Tan, Mariko Katsumura and Jonathan SaulStrait traffic remains far below pre-war levels, industry sources reportChina calls US blockade ‘dangerous and irresponsible’, urges de-escalationWar-risk insurance costs remain high, with cover reviewed every 48 hours, industry sources say The first full day of a US blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports made little difference to Strait of Hormuztraffic on Tuesday, with at least eight ships including three Iran-linked tankers, crossing the waterway, shipping data showed.US President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to reach a deal. The blockade has created even further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies and war risk insurers. Traffic remains at only a fraction of the 130-plus daily crossings before the US and Israel’s war on Iran began on February 28, industry sources said on Tuesday. “During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade,” the US Central Command said on X, adding that six vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port.The three Iran-linked vessels that transited the strait were not heading to Iranian ports and were not affected by the blockade. Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-range tanker, is heading to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates, LSEG data showed.The vessel typically moves Iranian naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, to other non-Iranian Middle Eastern ports for export to Asia, Kpler data showed. Prior to this, two U.S.-sanctioned tankers passed through the narrow waterway.Handy tanker Murlikishan is heading to Iraq to load fuel oil on April 16, Kpler data showed. The vessel, formerly known as MKA, has transported Russian and Iranian oil. Another sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, would be the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began, data from LSEG and Kpler showed.The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co, were placed under US sanctions for dealing with Iran. The company could not be reached for immediate comment. Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE’s Hamriyah, the data showed. The Chinese-owned tanker has Chinese crew on board, the data showed.China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a US blockade of Iranian ports is “dangerous and irresponsible”, warning that it would only aggravate tensions. The ministry did not mention whether Chinese ships were passing the strait. SAILINGS THROUGH THE STRAITFive other vessels had sailed through the strait since the blockade began at 1400 GMT on Monday. These comprised two other chemical and gas tankers, two dry bulk vessels and the Ocean Energy cargo ship that docked at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. A US military note sent to mariners and seen by Reuters said that humanitarian shipments would be exempt from the blockade.“The United States does not need to block every type of ship or enter the Strait of Hormuz; it can carry out an intermittent blockade,” said Fabrizio Coticchia, professor of political science at Italy’s University of Genoa. “Ships will not be attacked, but rather diverted,” Coticchia said, adding that US warships would be located outside of the strait in the Gulf of Oman. While the cost of war-risk insurance has not increased since the blockade began, it remains at hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional weekly costs, with cover typically reviewed by underwriters every 48 hours, industry sources said.“A return to ‘normality’ in the Middle East arguably now appears more distant than it did one week ago, especially given that the U.S. navy has started a blockade,” ship broker BRS said in a report.“It is anticipated that there will be little or no commercial traffic in the strait for the foreseeable future.” Source link