Israeli large-scale attacks kill 254 in Lebanon despite US-Iran truce

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Lebanon's Hezbollah said early on Thursday it fired rockets at northern Israel in its first attack against the country since the United States reached a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its attack came in response to what it described as Israeli ceasefire violations, after Israel launched its biggest attack on Lebanon in this war on Wednesday.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy posted a map showing alternative shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz to help transiting ships avoid naval mines, the semi-official Iranian news agency ISNA said early on Thursday. 

The Red Cross said it was "outraged by the devastating death and destruction" in densely populated areas across Lebanon Wednesday as Israel launched a massive wave of attacks.

Heavy explosive weapons with wide-area effects struck bustling neighbourhoods, including the capital Beirut, without effective advance warnings, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement.

"People across Lebanon were holding their breath for a ceasefire agreement, but a wave of deadly strikes plunged the country into panic and chaos," said Agnes Dhur, the ICRC's head of delegation in Lebanon.

"Many who had begun thinking of the moment when they might return to their homes have been rushing to streets and hospitals, searching for missing loved ones or seeking a safety that feels increasingly out of reach."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday it would be unacceptable for ships to have to pay a fee to cross the Strait of Hormuz as Iran has suggested, and such a move would set a dangerous precedent for freedom of navigation.

Greece controls one of the largest merchant fleets globally in terms of cargo-carrying capacity. Amid ceasefire talks with the US. and Israel, Tehran, which controls the chokepoint, has proposed fees or tolls on vessels to safely pass through the strait.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture, while the White House said the priority was reopening the strait without limitations.

Mitsotakis said the strait always had freedom of navigation and that needs to continue.

"I don't think that the international community would be ready to accept Iran setting up a toll booth for every ship that crosses the strait," Mitsotakis told CNN. "That seems to me to be completely unacceptable."

The centre-right leader added that a separate international agreement regarding the strait may be necessary.

"But this agreement cannot, I repeat, cannot include a sort of a fee that ships will have to pay every time they cross the strait. This was not the case before the war started and it cannot be the case after the war finishes," he said.

"We would be setting a very, very dangerous precedent, if that were to happen, for the freedom of navigation."

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he urged his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, to include Lebanon in the ceasefire reached with Iran.

"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon," Macron wrote on X after speaking with both leaders.

He said it was a "necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting".

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared on Thursday a national day of mourning after Israeli strikes shook the country and killed more than 100 people, according to a preliminary toll from the health ministry.

In a statement, the prime minister's office said Thursday will be "a national day of mourning for the martyrs and wounded of the Israeli attacks that targeted hundreds of innocent, defenceless civilians", ordering the closure of public administrations and the lowering of flags.

Salam's office said he was engaged in diplomatic outreach "to mobilise all of Lebanon's political and diplomatic resources to stop the Israeli killing machine".

Bahrain said on Wednesday it had reopened its airspace, which had been closed since the start of the Middle East war, after Iran and the US agreed a two-week ceasefire.

Iraq had earlier announced it was reopening its airspace.

Civil aviation authorities have "announced the reopening of airspace over the Kingdom of Bahrain", the Bahrain News Agency reported.

It added that the operator of Bahrain International Airport, near the capital Manama, "confirms the gradual resumption of flights" and is working "to ensure the efficient and smooth return of operational activities, while safeguarding the safety and security of travellers".

Gulf nations have borne the brunt of Iran's retaliatory attacks since the United States and Israel launched strikes in late February that ignited a regional war.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that a Lebanon ceasefire was one of the key conditions of the Islamic Republic's 10-point plan for securing an end to the Middle East war, the ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.

Pezeshkian told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call that Tehran's "acceptance of the ceasefire is a clear sign of Iran's responsibility and serious will to resolve conflicts through diplomacy", ISNA said.

He added that "establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon has been one of the key conditions of Iran's 10-point plan".

Turkey  has citicised the ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which Israel and the United States say are not covered by the US-Iranian ceasefire, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

"We firmly condemn the Israeli attacks that have intensified against Lebanon, causing numerous casualties," said the statement from Turkey, a key regional player.

"These attacks are worsening the humanitarian situation in the country," said the ministry.

"The international community must act immediately to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and protect civilians," the statement added.

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday said Tehran's negotiators thought the US-Iran ceasefire agreed to on Tuesday included Lebanon, but the US had in fact not agreed to that.

Vance was speaking to reporters in Budapest.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera condemned the Wednesday killing of one of its journalists in an Israeli strike on Gaza, calling the death "a deliberate and targeted crime".

"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns the heinous crime of targeting and killing Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah, following a strike on the vehicle in which he was travelling west of the Gaza Strip," the network said in a statement.

The channel said it "affirms that his killing was not a random act but a deliberate and targeted crime intended to intimidate journalists", adding it "holds Israeli occupation forces fully responsible".

The scale of the killing in Israeli strikes on Lebanon Wednesday is "horrific", the UN rights chief said, urging the international community to help end the unfolding "nightmare".

"The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific," Volker Turk said in a statement. "Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians."

The Israeli police said that holy places in Jerusalem that had been closed due to safety measures adopted during the war with Iran will reopen Thursday.

"Following... updated Home Front Command guidelines, starting tomorrow morning, Thursday, 9 April, 2026, the holy sites in the city of Jerusalem will reopen to visitors and for prayer," the police announced Wednesday.

The UAE said on Wednesday that Iran should pay for damage caused by its Gulf attacks, adding that it was seeking clarification on how the ceasefire will ensure Tehran ceases hostilities and reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE "is seeking further clarification on the agreement's provisions to ensure Iran's full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz", its foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iranian attacks "necessitate a firm position, including ensuring that Iran is held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations", it added.

Iran's parliament speaker said on Wednesday that a ceasefire and talks with the United States were "unreasonable" because of violations of Tehran's 10-point truce plan, including continued attacks in Lebanon, a drone entering Iranian airspace and a denial of the country's right to enrichment.

"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments -- a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X, listing three violations of the Iranian proposal.

"Now, the very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such (a) situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable."

The United States said Wednesday that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz "immediately, quickly and safely" after reports that the strategic waterway was shut despite the US-Iran ceasefire.

Any closure "is completely unacceptable," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

"I will reiterate the president's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately quickly and safely."

Turkish security forces have arrested nearly 200 people in a nationwide sweep one day after a shootout outside Israel's consulate in Istanbul, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said Wednesday.

Gurlek posted on X that officers had arrested 198 suspects in a simultaneous operation in 34 provinces against "the terrorist organisation Daesh", another name for the Islamic State group.

A gunman was killed and two others wounded in Tuesday's shootout with police outside the consulate, with two officers lightly wounded.

US President Donald Trump will continue to discuss with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the idea of including Lebanon in an Iran war ceasefire deal, his spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"This will continue to be discussed, I am sure, between the president and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, the United States and Israel and all of the parties involved," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

The US-Iran truce does not include Lebanon, which was drawn into the war after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.

The Lebanese army announced on Wednesday that it was closing a vital bridge in southern Lebanon, after receiving an "Israeli threat to target it".

This is the last bridge linking the north and south of the Litani River in the Tyre area, where thousands of families remain despite Israeli evacuation warnings.

Since the start of the war with Hezbollah on March 2, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed six bridges over the Litani, which divides southern Lebanon into two parts. Israel accuses Iran-backed group Hezbollah of using the bridges for transport.

Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Wednesday, prompting Rome to summon their ambassador to protest.

An Italian convoy from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had been carrying personnel from the town of Shama to Beirut when it was targeted by warning shots fired by the Israeli military, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement.

The convoy immediately stopped and returned to base.

The incident, in which no injuries were reported, prompted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to call on Israel to cease attacks in Lebanon.

"The continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have already caused too many deaths and an unacceptable number of displaced people, must cease immediately," Meloni said in a statement in which she condemned the incident.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome on Wednesday evening after earlier telling parliament "Italian soldiers in Lebanon are not to be touched".

Tajani told parliament that only one vehicle had been damaged, but Crosetto spoke of "minor damage to the vehicles".

"It is unacceptable that Italian soldiers deployed under the UN flag, tasked exclusively with guaranteeing peace and stability, should be exposed to risky situations by the Israeli army," Crosetto said.

US President Donald Trump is dispatching his Iran negotiating team, led by Vice President JD Vance, to Pakistan for talks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the first round of negotiations would take place on Saturday. 

Al Jazeera reported on Wednesday that one of its journalists, Mohammed Washeha, was killed when an Israeli drone strike targeted his car in Gaza.

"Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Washeha was martyred in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli drone targeted his car," the channel said.

Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement the U.S. has with Iran "because of Hezbollah" but will "get taken care of," US President Donald Trump told PBS News in an interview on Wednesday a day after his ceasefire agreement with Iran.

Asked if he was okay with Israel's continued strikes, Trump said "That's a separate skirmish," PBS "News Hour" program's Liz Landers said in a post on X following the interview.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said that Lebanon was not part of the deal, Axios reported.

The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah commander in Beirut on Wednesday, after Lebanese state media reported that Israel had targeted a residential neighbourhood in the capital.

"A short while ago, the IDF struck a Hezbollah commander in Beirut," the military said, without identifying the target.

The US embassy in Baghdad warned citizens on Wednesday of further attacks after it said Iran-backed armed groups hit a diplomatic support centre at the airport.

"Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran conducted multiple drone attacks in the vicinity of the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center and Baghdad International Airport on April 8," the embassy said in a statement on X.

"They may intend to conduct additional terrorist attacks against US citizens and targets associated with the United States throughout Iraq," it added, advising citizens against travelling in Iraq by plane.

A large wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 89 people and wounded 722 others on Wednesday, health minister Rakan Nassereddine told Al Jazeera.

"The initial and non-final toll... we have more than 89 martyrs and more than 722 wounded as of 5:00 pm (1400 GMT)," he said.

A US official told AFP news agency Wednesday that a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions that were agreed to by the White House for pausing the war.

"The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework," the senior official said on condition of anonymity.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry reported "severe material damage" at several vital facilities of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the energy and water resources ministry after an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday.

The ministry said fires broke out in some of the attacked sites, which it said include oil facilities and three power stations and water desalination plants.

Iranian forces downed an Israeli-made Hermes drone flying above the town of Lar in the south of the country on Wednesday, state television said, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards.

"Minutes ago, an advanced Hermes 900 drone was intercepted and destroyed in the sky over Lar, Fars Province, by fire from the Revolutionary Guards' modern aerospace defence system," the statement reported by broadcaster IRIB said.

It added that "the entry of any type of enemy American or Zionist aircraft into the country's skies, even without conducting military operations, is considered a violation of the ceasefire and a decisive response will be given".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised "ceasefire violations" by Israel in a call with the commander of the armed forces of Pakistan, which mediated the fragile US-Iran truce, an Iranian ministry statement said.

Araghchi "discussed the Zionist regime's violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon", referring to Israel, in a call with the powerful Pakistani military leader Field Marshal Asim Munir, the statement said.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack on Wednesday targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon.

"The [Israeli military] carried out a surprise strike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centres across Lebanon. This is the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers," Katz said in a video statement, referring to a major 2024 operation against Hezbollah involving pager bombs.

The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones had targeted its territory despite a US announcement of a two-week ceasefire with the Islamic republic.

"Blatant Iranian attacks since the ceasefire took effect have reached 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones, and the air defences have successfully dealt with them," the UAE's defence ministry said in a statement on X.

Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll that the series of Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds.

"In a very serious escalation, Israeli warplanes launched a wave of simultaneous airstrikes on several Lebanese areas, resulting in, in an initial count, dozens of martyrs and hundreds of wounded," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry reiterated its call for citizens to "reduce traffic congestion, especially in the neighbourhoods of the capital, to allow priority for rescue and ambulance services".

Saudi Arabia's crucial East-West oil pipeline, currently its only outlet for crude exports, was hit in an Iranian attack and other facilities in the kingdom were also targeted, an industry source told Reuters on Wednesday. The pipeline was diverting around 7 million barrels per day (bpd) from the kingdom's oil heartland in the east to the Red Sea port of Yanbu after Iran effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz, trapping huge volumes of oil and gas and sending world energy markets skyrocketing.

Flows through the pipeline are expected to be affected, the source said, adding damage was being assessed. That could exacerbate what experts have called the world's worst energy crisis.

Aramco uses about 2 million bpd domestically, leaving roughly 5 million bpd for export. Yanbu loadings averaged a near-capacity 4.6 million bpd in the week starting March 23, shipping data shows, despite attacks targeting the hub on March 19.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Wednesday it hit several targets across the region with missiles and drones, including what it called oil facilities of American companies in Yanbu.

The leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the European Union welcomed Wednesday the US-Iran ceasefire and urged a "swift and lasting end" to the war.

"The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means," read a joint statement.

The leaders said they encouraged "quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement" to protect civilians, ensure regional security and avert a global energy crisis.

"We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon," they said.

Israel has said Lebanon was not included in the US-Iran truce.

The two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran began early Wednesday, but talks between the parties are expected in Pakistan on Friday.

The statement was published in the names of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.

The US military is prepared to resume attacks on Iran if ordered by President Donald Trump, the top US general said Wednesday.

"Let us be clear, a ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon," General Dan Caine told a press conference.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also warned that "we stand ready in the background to ensure that Iran upholds" the terms of the truce agreed to on Tuesday.

Hezbollah has urged its supporters to avoid travelling to villages, towns and neighbourhoods that have been targeted in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs until a final ceasefire is officially announced, warning of possible “treacherous attempts” by the Israeli army.

In a statement addressed to the “people of the resistance”, the group said it was on the “verge of a major historic victory”, crediting the sacrifices of its fighters and the resilience of civilians, and called for continued patience during this period.

It added that the “enemy” may attempt to create a false impression of success despite what it described as setbacks on the ground, and said residents would soon return to their homes “with dignity and honour”.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Wednesday of the threat from "possible provocations and sabotage" to the ceasefire accord agreed by Iran and the United States.

In a message on X welcoming the last-minute accord, Erdogan said: "We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage."

Turkey, while a fierce critic of Israel, had joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict.

Turkey has meanwhile sent three trucks of medical aid to Iran, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu anounced. The minister said on X that he wanted to "heal the wounds" of the "oppressed".

Israel launched a series of strikes on Beirut on Wednesday, hitting several parts of the capital as well as its southern suburbs, Lebanese state media reported.

According to news agency AFP, several plumes of smoke were rising over Beirut and the suburbs.

AFP reported panic in the streets.

The three crewmen on the Thai-flagged vessel that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last month have died, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Thailand said 20 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy after the attack, which caused an explosion in the stern of the ship and a fire in the engine room.

Sihasak said he would travel to Oman in mid-April to seek assistance in coordinating with Iran to secure safe passage for nine Thai ships that are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

A Thai oil tanker travelled safely through the waterway late last month and was not required to pay to escape the blockade.

The EU Commission on Wednesday declined to comment on possible future steps to secure traffic in the Strait of Hormuz at this stage of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

"We have the news of the ceasefire. We're welcoming it. As the High Representative (Kaja Kallas) has said, we have a window in terms of mediation that needs to stay open and then we take it from there", EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during a daily press briefing.

He stressed the Strait of Hormuz was a global "public good" that should remain open for all. 

President Donald Trump welcomes NATO chief Mark Rutte to the White House on Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed US relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.

The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington's European allies in recent weeks for what he said was inadequate support for the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.

Trump said on Tuesday the attacks would be paused after the two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Trump has called for countries that depend on oil from the Gulf region to break Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, but European countries are unlikely to join mine-clearing or other missions to free up navigation as long as hostilities continue, according to two European diplomats.

Iran has vowed to obstruct the vital chokepoint with mines until the war ends.

Italy will not send any ships to help police the Hormuz Strait area following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran unless it is part of a U.N.-led initiative, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday.

"It is not on the agenda. We have already said that we will not send ships unless there is a United Nations initiative," said Salvini, who is also infrastructure minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government.

 Kuwait said on Wednesday its air defences were intercepting a wave of Iranian drones launched since 8 a.m. (0500 GMT), according to the army. The army said some drones targeted vital oil facilities, power stations and water desalination plants, causing major infrastructure damage. 

The UN agency responsible for safety at sea said Wednesday that it is working to ensure "security of transit" through the Strait of Hormuz following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East war.

"I am already working with the relevant parties to implement an appropriate mechanism to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz," said International Maritime Organisation chief Arsenio Dominguez.

"The priority now is to ensure an evacuation that guarantees the safety of navigation," he said in a statement.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Iran saying it had agreed to provide safe passage in the Strait.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil passes, has been effectively paralysed since the start of the war on 28 February.

Ten people, including two wounded gunmen, were in detention Wednesday a day after a deadly shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the state Anadolu news agency reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Turkish media said a gunman who was killed in the shootout was linked to the Islamic State group.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci had said that one of the assailants was linked to an "organisation that exploits religion" and that the two wounded gunmen were brothers with links to the drugs trade.

Other arrests have been made since the attempted attack on Tuesday which led to the shootout which witnesses said lasted more than 10 minutes.

"The number of people detained, including the two terrorists who are still hospitalised, has risen to 10," the state news agency said, quoting investigators.

There were no Israeli diplomats at the mission at the time as most have been evacuated since October 7, 2023.

Doha on Wednesday called on Tehran to halt any hostile acts, as it welcomed a deal between the United States and Iran for a two-week truce.

"Qatar expresses its welcoming of the announcement of the ceasefire... considering it an initial step toward de-escalation," the Gulf state's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The ministry affirms the importance of full adherence to the ceasefire... emphasising the necessity for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take the initiative to immediately cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability," it added.

US President Donald Trump told news agency AFP on Thursday that he believes China got Iran to negotiate a ceasefire in the war against Israel and the United States.

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it welcomed the ceasefire, adding that China had made its own efforts towards realising lasting peace in the Middle East.

"China has consistently advocated for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, as well as the resolution of disputes through political and diplomatic channels," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

She did not detail what China's efforts were when asked at a regular news briefing.

Spain's foreign minister on Wednesday said it was "unacceptable" that Israel continued its invasion of Lebanon after the United States and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire to halt the regional war.

"All fronts must cease, and all fronts also means Lebanon. It is unacceptable that Israel's war, Israel's invasion of a sovereign country like Lebanon... continues," Jose Manuel Albares told public radio RNE.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire as "good news" on X but said Spain would not "applaud those who set fire to the world because they show up with a bucket".

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday France welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing."

"We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations to take place," Macron said at the start of a meeting of top defence and security officials.

"Our wish is to ensure that the ceasefire fully includes Lebanon," he added.

Lebanon's army warned people against returning to the country's south on Wednesday, where the Israeli military is still launching attacks, as Israel said the ceasefire with Iran did not include its conflict with Hezbollah.

"In light of regional developments and reports circulating about a ceasefire, (the army) urges citizens to wait before returning to southern villages and towns and to avoid approaching areas where Israeli occupation forces have advanced... since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks," the Lebanese army said in a statement.

European shares jumped more than 3% on Wednesday as a two-week Middle East ceasefire sparked a relief rally across global markets, raising hopes that oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz could soon resume.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 3.6% at 611.73 points, as of 0713 GMT, and poised for its best session in a year, if current momentum persists.

Regional markets also mirrored the move, with Germany's DAX up 4.6%, while London's FTSE 100 climbed 2.3%.

Market reaction was swift after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's oil transits, or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Beyond the immediate relief, investors are waiting to see whether the truce can pave the way for a lasting resolution.

Energy markets also responded swiftly, with Brent crude futures falling 15% below $100 a barrel, offering some respite after weeks of elevated oil prices.

European equities have been under intense pressure since the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran erupted on February 28, with the continent's heavy dependence on oil imports through the largely blocked passage amplifying the pain.

Sectors linked to travel, industrials, and banking advanced between 5% and 7%, as they are typically seen as prime beneficiaries of lower energy costs and falling bond yields.

Meanwhile, energy sector lost 4.2% as crude prices tumbled.

Investors will turn their attention to euro zone retail sales and producer price data, due later in the day, which could provide further insight into the economic impact of recent energy market volatility.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran, saying it would ease tensions.

"I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much needed de-escalation", she said, adding it was crucial negotiations continue for an enduring solution .