In south Lebanon and Dahieh, a return without triumph
Love for the land has its reasons that reason knows nothing of. They defied every prohibition under a truce hanging by a thread. South Lebanon continues to be bombarded. The Israeli army has...
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Milei to visit Israel on Sunday, third time in two years
President Javier Milei will visit Israel on Sunday for talks with his close ally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argentina's presidency said, as a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah...
17 April 2026
Aoun: 'I am ready to go anywhere necessary to liberate my land, protect my people and save my country'
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun addressed the nation on Friday evening, a day after a 10-day cease-fire agreement with Israel came into effect. Praising the efforts of the United States and...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
EDL begins repairs on damages from Israeli strikes to electricity grid in southern Lebanon
BEIRUT — Electricité du Liban (EDL) announced in a statement that it has begun repairing damage caused by Israeli attacks on the distribution network in southern Lebanon. EDL specified that the...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Israel says it deployed a special unit in the Anti-Lebanon before cease-fire
The Israeli army has revealed that it carried out a military operation, codenamed "Al-Oukab" ("the Eagle"), just minutes before the cease-fire with Lebanon went into effect,...
17 April 2026
Traders place $760 million bet on falling oil ahead of Hormuz announcement
Investors placed a bet worth about $760 million on a falling oil price around 20 minutes before Iran's foreign minister announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was open, another sizeable...
17 April 2026
Significant differences remain between Iran-US, including on nuclear issues, senior Iranian official says
Significant differences between Iran and the United States remain to reach a deal aimed at ending the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday, adding that keeping the Strait of...
17 April 2026
Berri: National unity and civil peace are a red line that must not be crossed
BEIRUT — Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reaffirmed on Friday that “national unity and civil peace are a red line that must not be crossed, whatever the circumstances.” “Any attack on these...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Despite Middle East truce, airlines fear long-term disruptions
Buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, airlines have scrambled to trim routes and costs as fuel bills explode and wary clients think twice about their travel plans, a situation that could...
17 April 2026
Ministry of Public Works begins repairing bridges and other infrastructure destroyed by Israel
BEIRUT — The Ministry of Public Works announced in a statement on Friday that it began field operations at 3 a.m. to restore roads and other infrastructure damaged or destroyed by Israeli strikes...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
France, UK to lead multinational Hormuz mission
France and Britain said Friday they will lead a multinational mission ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasizing the force would be entirely defensive — and only...
17 April 2026
Oil plunges, stocks jump as Iran declares Hormuz open
Oil prices plunged more than 10 percent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets...
17 April 2026
On tour in the Jezzine region, Rai calls to 'strengthen the cease-fire and build lasting peace'
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on Friday welcomed the cease-fire in Lebanon, which took effect at midnight the same day, describing it as “the beginning of a new chapter” and an “urgent...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Cease-fire: Victory or trap for Lebanon?
Donald Trump's announcement of a 10-day truce in the war between Israel and Hezbollah was quickly hailed as a diplomatic victory for Beirut, especially for President Joseph Aoun, who had spoken...
Salah HIJAZI, 17 April 2026
From March 2 to April 16, Israel killed 2,294 in Lebanon: Provisional toll
The Health Ministry said the cumulative provisional toll of Israeli attacks in Lebanon, from March 2 to April 16 at midnight, stands at 2,294 killed and 7,544 injured, on the first day of a...
17 April 2026
Netanyahu: Israel 'has not yet finished the job' against Hezbollah
BEIRUT — Israel has “not yet finished the job” against Hezbollah, and its goal of dismantling the Lebanese Islamist movement “will not be achieved tomorrow,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Cease-fire in Lebanon: Thousands of displaced people rush toward the south as Qasmieh bridge reopens for traffic to Sour
BEIRUT — Thousands of residents from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs returned to their homes in areas devastated by war early Friday morning, after the start of a ten-day cease-fire...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Of cease-fires and hard-boiled eggs
Dear reader, Today is a good day. You might think it’s because of the cease-fire. Or maybe just because it’s a Friday. But no, it’s a good day because I didn't force myself to eat two...
17 April 2026
Riyad, 55, the gravedigger killed by Israel in Shumustar's cemetery
"I'm digging a grave and I'll be back to have coffee with you." Those were the last words of Riyad Husseini, a retired soldier and gravedigger, to his brother Issa. The meeting...
Yara Sarkis, 17 April 2026
Trump rejects NATO offer to help with Hormuz, says 'stay away'
President Donald Trump said Friday he had rejected an offer from NATO to help secure the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said it had reopened, telling the U.S.-led alliance to "STAY AWAY."...
17 April 2026
Trump says Israel banned from bombing Lebanon, any Iran deal not linked to Lebanon truce
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Israel will no longer bomb Lebanon and any U.S. deal with Iran is not contingent on what happens with Lebanon. "Israel will not be bombing...
17 April 2026
'If I had to describe Majdal Selm in one word, it would be ‘mom’'
Majdal Selm, a village in southern Lebanon less than six kilometers from the Israeli border, has been regularly targeted by Israeli strikes and artillery fire during the latest war, causing...
Editorial staff, 17 April 2026
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Trump welcomes Iranian announcement that Hormuz open to shipping
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement that the crucial Strait of Hormuz will be open to shipping for the duration of a ceasefire. "THANK YOU!" Trump...
17 April 2026
Iran's foreign minister says passage of vessels via Hormuz Strait is open during cease-fire
Iran's foreign minister said on Friday that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the cease-fire, in line with...
17 April 2026
Aoun says: Talks with Israel 'crucial,' Lebanese Army’s role is 'essential' in South 'after Israel's withdrawal'
BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said upcoming direct negotiations with Israel would be “delicate and crucial,” and called for “national responsibility” in the period ahead. “The eyes of the...
17 April 2026
Four journalists attacked in Debbine on first day of cease-fire
SOUTH LEBANON — The Lebanese Press Photographers Syndicate denounced in a statement published Friday the assault suffered in the morning by four correspondents and photojournalists from southern...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Cabinet's decision on cement quarrying taken on a day of national mourning sparks controversy
On April 9, amid national mourning following Black Wednesday, the Cabinet adopted a decision drafted by Industry Minister Joe Issa al-Khoury granting cement companies the right to (re)operate their...
Suzanne BAAKLINI, 17 April 2026
Lebanese Army soldier killed, 3 injured in overnight clashes in Tripoli
BEIRUT — Armed clashes on Thursday night near Bab al-Tabbaneh–Zehrieh in Tripoli killed a Lebanese Army soldier and injured three people, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North...
17 April 2026
Air Arabia, Cyprus Airways announce return to Beirut, more airlines may follow soon
As a 10-day truce took effect at midnight on Friday between Lebanon and Israel, at least two foreign airlines announced on Friday their imminent return to Beirut's Rafik Hariri International...
Philippe HAGE BOUTROS, 17 April 2026
Sour authorities say 13 killed by Israeli strike just before truce
Israeli strikes on Sour in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people just before the 10-day cease-fire with Israel took effect at midnight, a city official said on Friday. The official, who asked...
17 April 2026
'Goodbye Schlöndorff': 13 years later, the memory endures
As the somber 20-year commemoration of the July 2006 war approaches in the context of a new Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon, some voices from the Lebanese diaspora set out to denounce...
Emmanuel KHOURY, 17 April 2026
‘Beirut demilitarized and secured:’ The capital’s MPs mostly rally behind the authorities
A week after Black Wednesday, during which Israel pummeled Beirut, killing more than 350 people, MPs from the capital met on Thursday to renew their call to keep the city safe from strikes.The...
Yara ABI AKL, 17 April 2026
Cease-fire, negotiations with Israel: our co-editor-in-chief Anthony Samrani answered your questions
14:52 Beirut Time We are now closing this Q&A session. Thanks for tuning in! Thank you all for your many questions! Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to answer them all, but...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Air Arabia, second Emirati airline to announce resumption of its flights to Beirut
BEIRUT — Air Arabia said Friday it plans to resume flights between the emirate of Sharjah and Beirut starting April 23, according to a message sent to its partners in Lebanon, as a 10-day...
17 April 2026
Cease-fire in Lebanon, negotiations with Israel... Ask your questions to our co-editor-in-chief Anthony Samrani
Dear reader, Everything seems to have happened very quickly. A first phone call between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington, a historic meeting immediately afterward, hopes dashed...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
Celebratory shooting after cease-fire: 1 killed, Lebanese Army arrests 9 suspects
BEIRUT — “Celebratory” gunfire in Beirut’s southern suburbs after midnight Friday, following the implementation of the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel, killed one person, according to Civil...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
How Israel razed entire villages in southern Lebanon
Since the resumption of the war in Lebanon in early March, Israeli officials have been applying the same strategy in southern Lebanon as in Gaza, aiming to create a buffer zone. Our analysis and...
17 April 2026
Hezbollah says 'fighters' hands will remain on the trigger' in case of Israeli violations, MP 'thanks Iran'
BEIRUT — Hezbollah said Friday its fighters are keeping "their hands on the trigger” following the announcement of a cease-fire with Israel, expected to last 10 days, in a statement reviewing...
17 April 2026
With camera in hand, Rayan Meldan captures a Lebanon divided yet brimming with acts of solidarity
This is the sadly ordinary story of a Lebanese couple who come together in exile between France and Lebanon. A story of a connection to their homeland that is hard to push to the background, and...
Nanette Ziadé-Ritter, 17 April 2026
Full text of the cease-fire agreement between Lebanon and Israel
BEIRUT — After 46 days of war, a meeting in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, and a call between President Joseph Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump, a 10-day, renewable...
L'Orient Today staff, 17 April 2026
'There’s no set time to feel at home': Becky’s brings the soul of Lebanon to Paris
On this gentle spring morning, sunlight cracks its way in as you cross the threshold of Becky’s, the Lebanese street food spot located on rue Claude Bernard in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, opened...
Anne ILCINKAS à Paris, 17 April 2026
Hajjar says security forces and army must step up vigilance in coming days
BEIRUT — Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar said security forces and the army must “step up their efforts and strengthen coordination to support the return of residents to several villages and towns,...
17 April 2026
Aoun secures 10-day cease-fire from Trump, sidesteps Tel Aviv's trap
A first gain for the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. He secured a cease-fire in Lebanon — albeit a temporary one — after a turbulent day of events.Late on Thursday, after speaking with his Lebanese...
Mounir RABIH, 17 April 2026
Iraq once again drawn into the Washington-Tehran power struggle
As tensions between the United States and Iran have shifted to an open confrontation, Iraq, long a space of managed rivalry between the two powers, has again been drawn toward the front lines. The...
Dany MOUDALLAL, 17 April 2026
European countries have capacity to clear mines in Hormuz, French defense minister says
European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have mine clearance capacity, which could help secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin...
17 April 2026
Israel says it deployed special unit in Anti-Lebanon before cease-fire; Aoun: 'There will never be any agreement that affects our national rights' | LIVE
22:58 Beirut Time Iran has agreed to stop supporting Hezbollah and Hamas, says Trump U.S. President Donald Trump told CBS that Iran had agreed to stop supporting Hezbollah and Hamas....
Ghadir Hamadi, Justine Baer, 17 April 2026
Israel-Lebanon cease-fire comes into effect, Pakistan confirms progress in Iran talks: Everything you need to know this Friday
Want to get the Morning Brief by email? Click here to sign up.Friday, April 17, 2026Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz Some key things to watch today:The first day of the cease-fire in LebanonProgress in...
Abbas Mahfouz, 17 April 2026
Lebanese Army reports Israeli 'cease-fire violations'
Israel committed violations of a cease-fire in Lebanon that took effect at midnight, including intermittent shelling of several southern Lebanese villages, the Lebanese Army said early on Friday....
