A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon begins today, announced by President Trump. The ceasefire follows separate discussions with leaders from Israel and Lebanon, though Hezbollah was not involved in the negotiations.
Key points
10-day ceasefire begins between Israel and Hezbollah
Announced by President Trump on social media
Hezbollah not involved in ceasefire discussions
Israel vows to attack if threatened by Hezbollah
Current ceasefire between U.S., Israel, and Iran set to expire soon
Mentioned in this story
HezbollahIsraelTrumpIran
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A 10-day ceasefire to pause fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon begins today. President Trump announced the deal yesterday on social media after he had separate phone calls with leaders of Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah was not involved in the ceasefire discussions. Israel has vowed to keep its forces in southern Lebanon, saying it would attack if threatened by Hezbollah. The current two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel and Iran is set to expire in a few days. Iran has said it would not negotiate peace with the U.S. unless Israel entered a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Tracer rounds illuminate the night sky as people fire live ammunition and fireworks into the air as a ceasefire was beginning between Israel and Hezbollah, in Beirut, Lebanon, in the early hours of Friday.
Tracer rounds illuminate the night sky as people fire live ammunition and fireworks into the air as a ceasefire was beginning between Israel and Hezbollah, in Beirut, Lebanon, in the early hours of Friday.
Hassan Ammar/AP
Hassan Ammar/AP
🎧 NPR's Kat Londsorf is in Beirut, where she says things have been relatively quiet since the ceasefire began at midnight. She says there is a little hope among people here. "A ceasefire is always welcome in war," she says. "But people also realize this is temporary, so it's a cautious optimism." About a fifth of Lebanon's population has been displaced by the violence. Both Israel and Hezbollah have told people it's still too dangerous to return home.
Q&A
What is the duration of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah?
The ceasefire is set to last for 10 days.
Who announced the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon?
President Trump announced the ceasefire deal on social media.
Was Hezbollah involved in the ceasefire negotiations?
No, Hezbollah was not involved in the ceasefire discussions.
What will happen if Hezbollah threatens Israel during the ceasefire?
Israel has vowed to keep its forces in southern Lebanon and will attack if threatened by Hezbollah.
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🎧 As the end of the two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel and Iran looms, U.S. defense officials say the naval blockade on Iranian ports is firmly in place. The U.S. is blocking ships from exiting or entering Iranian ports — strangling Iran's economy. Meanwhile, Iran has control of the Strait of Hormuz until U.S., European or Asian minesweepers can clear it and possibly escort ships safely through. NPR's Quil Lawrence says that blockades are an act of war, but in this case, it could be part of negotiations.
President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, a former Coast Guard doctor and Trump's deputy surgeon general under his first administration, to serve as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has been without a confirmed leader for all but a month of the president's second term. If confirmed, Schwartz would work under Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She would inherit an agency in turmoil, with employees who have been affected by major cuts to staffing, budget and programs. Here's what we know about Schwartz.
🎧 The CDC is much quieter these days, and it's informing the public a lot less, NPR's Pien Huang says. The agency has recently been challenged over changes to vaccines made under HHS Secretary Kennedy. The staff that remains says they've lost trust in federal leadership. Huang says Schwartz will have her work cut out for her if she is confirmed. In testimony yesterday, Kennedy said Schwartz and others Trump named to help lead the CDC have been getting "applause from both Republicans and Democrats."
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Go face-to-face with the person of the moment. NPR's Newsmakers video podcast brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts, and culture out of the headlines and into the interview chair to discuss the mark they're making on the world. Follow theNewsmakers podcastor subscribe toNPR's YouTube channelto get new episodes as soon as they're available.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani didn't realize how small his one-bedroom apartment was until he moved all of his things into the bedroom at Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence. But he hasn't had time to think about all that space, because he spends most of his time at City Hall and around New York City. The mayor makes sure to meet other New Yorkers and "break out of the bubble" by getting around the city on foot, by bike or by train. In a conversation with NPR's Leila Fadel, Mamdani discusses his first 100 days as mayor, the future of the Democratic Party and the dehumanizing effects of the Iran war on "people across his country."
Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon.
Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy
Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Instead of diving into new releases this week, the Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts are making a dent in the lists of classic movies they somehow haven't seen yet, including Erin Brockovich, Enter the Dragon, Raging Bull and Flower Drum Song.
📺 TV: Season 2 of Netflix's Beef can get unwieldy at times with how many new characters and intertwining storylines there are. But it's compelling because at any given moment, each character may reveal the worst of themselves, NPR's Aisha Harris says.
📚 Books: Jump back in time with these memoirs from two figures who defined '90s culture: Grammy-winning singer Brandy Norwood's Phases and TV host Arsenio Hall's Arsenio.
🎵 Music: Los Jornaleros Del Norte is providing the soundtrack for anti-ICE protests in LA. The band plays protest songs whose lyrics reflect the hopes and struggles of undocumented workers as they evade immigration agents.
❓ Quiz: This newsletter has kept you updated on the latest Iran war news. But have you kept up with a major war in the animal kingdom? You'll need that knowledge to complete this week's quiz.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and fellow Republicans celebrate GOP tax policies at an event outside the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and fellow Republicans celebrate GOP tax policies at an event outside the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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