Iran war: Temporary Israel-Lebanon ceasefire takes effect

President Donald Trump on Thursday described the US-Israeli war with Iran as a "little diversion" during his second term.

At an event in Las Vegas, the US president boasted about his economic record since returning to office in 2025.

"We had the best economy in the history of our country in my first term. And we're blowing it out now...And despite our little diversion to the lovely country of Iran, lovely place," Trump told his supporters.

"But we had to do that, because otherwise, bad things could happen, the really bad thing," he added, in an apparent reference to his repeated comments that Iran was seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran has previously maintained that its nuclear program served only civilian purposes.

Trump also said the war against Iran was going "swimmingly" and ​that it "should be ⁠ending pretty ​soon."

Last weekend, Ipsos conducted a poll in which 51% of the more than 1,000 US respondents said the war with Iran was not worth the associated costs, while only 24% said the opposite.

Lebanon's army accused Israel of "acts of aggression," including intermittent shelling of several southern Lebanese villages, that it said violated the ceasefire agreement that took effect at midnight Friday local time.

In a statement, the Lebanese army also called on citizens to refrain from returning to southern villages and towns.

The Israeli military did not make an immediate comment.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump expressed his hope that the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah would "act nicely" during the ceasefire in Lebanon.

"It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!" he added.

On Thursday, Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day truce.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and urged "all actors" to respect the truce, according to his spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and commends the United States' role in facilitating it," Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Guterres "urges all actors to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times," Dujarric added.

This statement may extend beyond Israel and Lebanon to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said its forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, Reuters news agency reported. The military also urged Lebanese residents not to move south of the Litani River.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had agreed to the ceasefire "to advance" peace efforts with Lebanon.

However, he added that Israeli troops would not withdraw. 

Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants along the border as the Israeli soldiers advance into southern Lebanon to establish a "security zone," according to officials. In his video address, Netanyahu said the zone will extend 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanon.

"That is where we are, and we are not leaving," he said.

The Lebanese government is not actively involved in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. However, it is seeking de-escalation and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

According to AFP journalists and AFPTV footage, gunfire erupted in Beirut's southern suburbs as a ceasefire with Israel came into effect at midnight on Friday, local time (21:00 UTC/GMT Thursday).

Lebanese state media also reported "heavy gunfire" at the start of the 10-day truce announced by US President Donald Trump earlier.

Shortly after midnight, AFP journalists heard shots ring out and RPGs erupt into the air, continuing for well over half an hour as red bullet traces took off into the sky.

Despite officials' warnings not to return to their homes until the ceasefire was confirmed, displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.

With the world watching to see if the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon announced Thursday by US President Donald Trump will hold, DW begins its Friday coverage of the situation in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Beirut.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry welcomed the truce, calling it part of the earlier two-week ceasefire deal struck between Tehran and the US.

Stay tuned for more news and analysis.