Tensions escalate as Israel continues strikes on Lebanon despite US-Iran ceasefire agreement

On April 9, 2026, Israel continued heavy airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting over 100 locations in Beirut and other areas, reportedly killing nearly 200 people. This follows a broader military escalation that Hezbollah responded to with rocket fire into northern Israel. While the United States and Iran recently negotiated a two-week ceasefire, US officials and Israel maintain that the agreement does not cover the conflict in Lebanon. Conversely, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insists that a ceasefire in Lebanon is a fundamental condition of their 10-point plan for peace. Due to the ongoing strikes, Iran has threatened to withdraw from the agreement and has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, requiring transit permission from the Revolutionary Guards under threat of attack. High-level peace talks between US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to take place this Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan, at a secured hotel site. The French government has urged both Washington and Tehran to include Lebanon in the ceasefire to prevent a wider regional conflict.