The two-week ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump has brought a fragile calm to the Middle East, yet a significant diplomatic rift has emerged regarding Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly stated that while Israel supports the truce with Iran, the agreement does not apply to Lebanese territory.

In an official statement released Wednesday, Netanyahu’s office affirmed its support for U.S. efforts to neutralize Iran’s nuclear and missile threats. However, it emphasized that Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon would continue unabated. This stance directly contradicts Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s earlier assertion that the ceasefire would be “universal,” covering all regional allies, including Lebanon. Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir played pivotal roles as mediators in securing this last-minute deal.

The conflict in Lebanon has reached a boiling point since March 2, following retaliatory strikes by Hezbollah after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Khamenei. With over 1,500 dead and 1 million displaced—more than a fifth of Lebanon’s population—the humanitarian crisis is dire. While Iran views the truce as a diplomatic victory and is set to engage in direct talks with the U.S. in Islamabad on April 10, Israel’s refusal to halt its offensive in Lebanon remains a dangerous wildcard that could shatter the temporary peace.