Nations and organisations and Beirut react positively to the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Lebanese authorities negotiated the pause with Israel after an historic meeting on Tuesday in the U.S with President Donald Trump making the announcement on Thursday 16 April.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, in a post on X, "I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the U.S. in facilitating it. I hope this will pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive peace in the region. I urge everyone to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with international law at all times.
I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the US in facilitating it.
I hope this will pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive… — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 16, 2026
Guterres has been very vocal on the conflict and urged sides to maintain peace.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates released a statement on X, highlighting the matter of maintaining international coordination even as temporary peace holds.
“The Ministry emphasized the importance of continued effective international coordination to prevent further escalation and avert its humanitarian and security repercussions in the region,” the statement reads.
“This step represents a pivotal moment in the path towards establishing national security and stability. The Ministry also affirmed the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and its continued support for the brotherly Lebanese people in achieving their aspirations for security, stability, development, and prosperity.”
The UAE has been a target of drone attacks from Iran in the wider conflict, which started on 28 February by Israel and the U.S.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, welcomed the ceasefire. "Europe will continue to call for the full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And we will keep supporting the Lebanese people through substantial humanitarian aid," on a post on X.
I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump.
This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives.
Now, we need not just a temporary pause, but a path to permanent peace.
Europe will continue to call for… — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 16, 2026
António Costa, President of the European Council, who works closely with von der Leyen, called the agreement “excellent news” and stressed the need for implementation and verification. He wrote that the European Union will keep "empowering the authorities to disarm Hezbollah" and that this "is the only sustainable solution for restoring Lebanon’s stability".
The European Union has pledged more than €100 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described on X how the ceasefire is an important step toward stability.
“This is a crucial step to avoid the terrible suffering of the Lebanese people and for the stability of the Middle East. It is essential that all parties respect it and transform this opportunity into lasting peace, in full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon,” the ministry stated.
Antonio Tajani, Italy's Foreign Minister, also said the move was "crucial step forward for the stability of the entire Middle East".
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed the announcement and reiterated its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed in a statement Jordan's absolute support for the Lebanese state in asserting its control and sovereignty over all Lebanese territories, confining arms to the hands of the state, reactivating its national institutions, the reform steps it has taken, and its efforts to preserve Lebanon's resources and the safety and unity of its lands,” it said.
Other nations affected by strikes during the wider Middle East conflict have spoken out. Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says they welcomed the ceasefire and joined their counterpart in Saudi Arabia in expressing importance to adhering to it and the stakeholders who helped reach it.
Read more:
Saudi Arabia’s Delta Energy International has signed a 25-year, $200 million oil and gas contract with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines ...
Asian countries are seeking to unlock investment and ease cross-border financing as digital technologies transform financial markets, a key focus o...
Several state-owned infrastructure companies in Central Asia are preparing for potential listings in Hong Kong, as the financial hub steps up effor...
At least five people were killed and five others injured when an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane overran a runway and crashed while landing at Miami International Airport on Sunday, 6 September, local officials said.
U.S. special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Sunday on efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Operations at several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were suspended on Tuesday after attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces injured more than 70 people and sparked fires, Saudi authorities said.
Saudi Arabia is now facing pressure from both ends of the Arabian Peninsula. While the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting Gulf shipping and energy flows, fighting has intensified in western Yemen, bringing the Houthis back into direct confrontation with the kingdom.
Iran has warned it will retaliate against any future U.S. attacks, saying American energy interests and infrastructure across the Gulf could become targets in a further escalation of the conflict.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States must recognise that the “rules of the game” in its war against Iran had changed “before it is too late”, a day after Washington struck several Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf, the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment