Trump Claims Lebanon Excluded from US-Iran Ceasefire Amid Escalating Violence, Contradicting Pakistan's Mediation Role

President Donald Trump has asserted that Lebanon was excluded from the recent US-Iran ceasefire agreement, a claim that directly contradicts statements made by Pakistan, which mediated the truce. This assertion comes amid escalating violence in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,400 people and injured thousands since Wednesday. Trump described the conflict as a "separate skirmish," emphasizing that Hezbollah's role in the region rendered Lebanon ineligible for inclusion in the deal. His remarks, delivered during an interview with PBS, were echoed later by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who confirmed that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire and dismissed concerns that Israel might be undermining the agreement. Leavitt reiterated the US's unwavering support for Israel, calling it a "key ally and partner."

The exclusion of Lebanon from the truce has raised significant concerns among regional actors and international observers. Iranian state media reported that Tehran is prepared to take "serious steps" in response to Israeli attacks, including the potential suspension of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. While these claims have not been officially confirmed by Iranian officials, they signal a willingness to escalate tensions if Israel continues its military operations. A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that the ceasefire applies to the entire region and warned that Israel's history of breaching agreements would require "deterrence through force." However, no immediate retaliatory actions have been observed from Iran, despite the IRGC's threats to respond if Israeli strikes persist.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly maintained that the two-week ceasefire includes Lebanon, a claim supported by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi, who shared Sharif's statement on social media. Arghchi emphasized that the US must choose between upholding the ceasefire or continuing hostilities through Israel, a decision he said the world is watching closely. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown no intention of halting operations against Lebanon, with his government proceeding with one of its most intense aerial campaigns in the region's history. Lebanese health authorities reported at least 254 deaths and over 1,160 injuries from the strikes, which targeted civilian infrastructure such as mosques, hospitals, and residential areas.

The conflicting narratives surrounding the ceasefire underscore a deepening fracture in regional diplomacy. While the US and Israel frame Lebanon's situation as a distinct conflict unrelated to the broader truce, Iran and its allies argue that the agreement explicitly covers the entire region. This divergence has created uncertainty about the stability of the ceasefire and the potential for further escalation. Analysts warn that the absence of clear communication between parties risks undermining efforts to de-escalate hostilities, particularly as Iran's economic and strategic leverage in the region remains a critical factor. The situation highlights the challenges of maintaining multilateral agreements when key stakeholders hold divergent interpretations of their terms.

Public sentiment in Lebanon has turned sharply against the violence, with widespread condemnation of both Israeli strikes and the perceived failure of international mediators to protect civilians. Human rights organizations have called for immediate investigations into the targeting of civilian sites, while experts caution that prolonged conflict could exacerbate humanitarian crises. The US's dual focus on domestic policy achievements and its controversial foreign interventions—marked by tariffs, sanctions, and military alliances—has drawn criticism from both progressive and centrist voices. As the situation in Lebanon deteriorates, the global community faces mounting pressure to ensure that ceasefire agreements are not only negotiated but also rigorously enforced to prevent further loss of life.

The Health Minister of Lebanon, Rakan Nassereddine, issued a stark warning on the escalating violence, describing the situation as a "dangerous escalation" marked by Israeli airstrikes targeting civilian areas across the country. "The needs are increasing, but the scale of the assault is also huge," he told Al Jazeera, emphasizing that over 100 air strikes had been launched against densely populated regions, including Beirut, Dahiyeh, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon, and the south. The minister's remarks underscored the growing humanitarian crisis, with more than 1.2 million people now displaced from their homes, compounding the already dire conditions in a nation grappling with economic collapse and political instability.

The brutality of the attacks was further highlighted by the targeting of a funeral in Shmestar, a town in the Bekaa Valley, where at least 20 people were killed in a single strike. This act of violence, described by Lebanese officials as a deliberate attack on civilians, has drawn international condemnation. Concurrently, air raids were reported in central Beirut, as well as in the coastal cities of Sidon and Tyre, raising fears of a broader campaign aimed at destabilizing the region. Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has urgently called for global intervention, stating that Israel remains "utterly heedless" of international appeals to halt the conflict. He accused the Israeli government of "disregarding international law and humanitarian principles," a claim that has been echoed by multiple UN agencies and human rights organizations.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has condemned the Israeli strikes as acts of "blind malice" and "boundless brutality," framing them as a desperate attempt to retaliate against the Lebanese population. In a strongly worded statement, the group accused Israel of committing "documented war crimes and acts of genocide" by attacking markets, commercial areas, and residential neighborhoods during peak hours. Hezbollah reiterated its stance that it has the "natural and legal right" to resist what it describes as an unprovoked aggression. The group also linked the current violence to Israel's alleged role in the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, though this claim has not been independently verified.

The conflict, which has intensified since early March, follows a failed ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024. Despite the temporary pause in hostilities, Israel has continued its military operations across Lebanon, conducting daily airstrikes that have left civilians in a state of constant fear. The breakdown of the ceasefire has been attributed to both sides, with Hezbollah citing Israeli violations of the agreement and Israel accusing the group of using the truce to rearm and prepare for further attacks. The situation remains volatile, with no clear path to de-escalation in sight.

As the death toll rises and displacement figures climb, the international community faces mounting pressure to act. Humanitarian organizations warn that the ongoing violence risks plunging Lebanon into a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe, with limited resources and infrastructure already stretched to their breaking point. The calls for urgent intervention have grown louder, but with global powers divided on how to respond, the fate of Lebanon's civilians hangs in the balance.