Lebanon Truce: Pause in Fighting, Peace Talks Ahead

0:00It's April 16. This is U.S. News Today, AI-powered stories shaping the nation. I'm Cory with the story. A 10-day truce kicked off Friday in Lebanon, putting a temporary halt to the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah fighters. President Trump announced the deal, calling it a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, even though it's really aimed at the Iran-backed militants. Inside the country. This comes after weeks of brutal fighting that's wrecked the region. Most Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his forces agree to pause to push peace talks forward, but they're digging in with a six-mile. Security zone along the border and not pulling out anytime soon. Hezbollah fire back that any occupation gives them the right to fight on, which could test this truce fast. The U.S. says Israel can still defend itself against the tax, but won't launch offensive's otherwise. Folks in Beirut lit up the sky with celebratory gunfire right after midnight, and over a million displaced families start aheading back to southern. Lebanon and the southern suburbs, ignoring official warnings to wait and see if the

1:03pause holds. Hezbollah kept lobbing rockets into northern Israel until the very last minute, with sirens blaring in border towns. This truce ties into bigger efforts to stretch a fragile ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran after nearly seven weeks of war that's killed. Thousands over 3,000 in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, and two dozen in Israel. Plus others. Pakistan's stepping up as a mediator, hosting talks on Iran's nuclear program, the straight-of-form moves, and war damages, while oil prices swing wild from, shipping disruptions. Markets are jittery, but stocks hit records on hopes for peace, and Trump's hinting at extending deals if they're close. With blockades and threats still simmering, diplomats are racing to turn these pauses into something lasting before tensions boil over again.