live Ceasefire strains as Israel intensifies attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon killing hundreds - Thursday 9 April

Guterres condemns Israel's strikes on Lebanon, warns of threat to ceasefire

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned Israel’s strikes across Lebanon, warning that the growing civilian death toll risks destabilising the region and undermining ceasefire efforts.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Guterres said the 8 April attacks killed and injured hundreds of civilians, including children, and caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure. “with the announcement of the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S., the ongoing military activity in Lebanon poses a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region,” he said, reiterating his call for all parties to immediately cease hostilities, respect international humanitarian law and pursue a diplomatic path forward.

Israel eases nationwide restrictions after U.S.-Iran ceasefire, limits remain in north

Israel said on Wednesday it had eased nationwide restrictions following the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. However, tighter measures will remain in force in the northern areas of the country.

In a statement, the home front command said the decision was taken after a situational assessment and would come into effect at 6 a.m. local time (0300GMT). Schools and workplaces will reopen across most of Israel, but restrictions will stay in place near the Lebanese border, the occupied Golan Heights and parts of Haifa’s coastline.

In those areas, education will be limited to bomb shelters, workplaces must be close to shelters, and gatherings will be capped at 200 people indoors and 50 outdoors. Tighter restrictions had been introduced during the escalation with Iran, with some measures already eased last month over economic concerns.

Trump says U.S. forces to remain in and around Iran as he warns of renewed action if deal fails

The United States has said its military forces will remain positioned in and around Iran, maintaining full readiness while the ceasefire agreement is being implemented. In a social media post, the U.S. president said American ships, aircraft, and personnel would stay in place until the terms of what he described as the “real agreement” are fully met.

“all u.s. ships, aircraft, and military personnel… will remain in place in, and around, iran, until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with,” he wrote, warning that if it were not, then the “shootin’ starts,” adding that it would be “bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.”

He added that long‑standing terms included “no nuclear weapons” and that “the Strait of Hormuz will be open & safe,” concluding by saying the military was regrouping and that “America is back.”

Iran urges ships to take alternative routes through the Strait of Hormuz over mine risks

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have urged ships planning to transit the Strait of Hormuz to use alternative routes to “comply with the principles of maritime safety” and avoid potential collisions with sea mines, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media.

The statement outlined revised navigation patterns and included a map of suggested routes. Vessels entering from the Sea of Oman were advised to sail north of Larak Island before continuing into the Persian Gulf, while ships heading out of the gulf were instructed to pass south of Larak Island before proceeding towards the Sea of Oman.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon raise doubts over fragile ceasefire and planned peace talks

Israel carried out its heaviest strikes yet on Lebanon on Wednesday, killing hundreds and prompting a sharp warning from Iran, which said it would be “unreasonable” to proceed with talks on a permanent deal with the United States under the current circumstances.

Iran’s lead negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, said Israel had violated the ceasefire by escalating its campaign against Hezbollah, while accusing Washington of breaching the agreement by demanding that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions.

UAE Foreign Minister consults regional counterparts on U.S.-Iran ceasefire and Hormuz security

The United Arab Emirate’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, held talks with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Bolivia to discuss regional developments following the two‑week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel and Iran.

According to the UAE Foreign Ministry, the calls addressed the fallout from the agreement as well as Iran’s missile attacks against the UAE and other regional countries. Nahyan stressed the need for Tehran's full and immediate compliance with the ceasefire, the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and an end to threats against maritime transport, global trade and energy security.

Hezbollah fires rockets at northern Israel, citing ceasefire violations

Hezbollah in Lebanon said early on Thursday that it fired rockets at northern Israel, marking its first attack since the United States reached a two‑week ceasefire agreement with Iran.

In a statement, Hezbollah said the rocket fire was in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the ceasefire, after Israel carried out its largest attack on Lebanon so far in the conflict on Wednesday.