White House: Lebanon excluded from US-Iran truce as Israel strikes

The United States has explicitly stated that the recently brokered two‑week ceasefire agreement with Iran does not extend to Lebanon, even as Israeli warplanes pound targets across its northern neighbour. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that “Lebanon is not part of the cease‑fire,” adding that this understanding has been communicated to all parties involved. She also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “assured” President Donald Trump that Israel will “continue to be a helpful partner throughout the course of the next two weeks.”

Lebanon under heavy bombardment

The Israeli army announced that it struck more than 100 sites “within 10 minutes” across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon, describing it as the “largest coordinated strike” since the current Lebanon offensive began. The attacks came after Hezbollah carried out cross‑border strikes on March 2, following months of Israeli bombardment that had already violated a November 2024 ceasefire. The escalation on the Lebanese front has occurred in parallel with the US‑Israeli military campaign against Iran that started on February 28, which has killed over 1,400 people, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s warning and Türkiye’s stance

Iran warned earlier Wednesday that Washington must choose between a ceasefire and “continued war via Israel,” saying it cannot have both. An informed source told Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim News Agency that Tehran would withdraw from the truce if Israel continues to violate it through attacks on Lebanon. Türkiye, which welcomed the US‑Iran ceasefire and called for its full implementation on the ground, has consistently urged de‑escalation on all fronts. Ankara has also stressed that Israel’s unlawful policies in the occupied Palestinian territories and its attacks on Lebanon are unacceptable and threaten regional stability.