Many people across the world first reacted with relief and even celebration when news came of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. However, this sense of calm did not last long.

Within hours, tensions rose again after Tehran reportedly moved to shut the Strait of Hormuz. This step came as a response to Israel’s fresh military strikes on Lebanon, raising fears that the ceasefire could collapse.

Israel’s Massive Strikes Shake Lebanon

Soon after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire following 39 days of conflict, the situation worsened. On Wednesday, Israel launched one of its biggest attacks on Lebanon during the current war.

The strikes targeted more than 100 locations within just 10 minutes. Areas hit included central Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. Loud explosions were heard across Beirut, and thick smoke covered residential neighbourhoods. Emergency services struggled to cope with the situation.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 254 people were killed and around 890 were injured. The death toll is expected to increase. The Israeli military said it had attacked Hezbollah headquarters and other military targets. However, many of the strikes hit crowded residential areas, causing heavy civilian damage. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and destruction. A student told Al Jazeera, “I heard several explosions. There were just way too many of them.”

Ali Younes, who was near one of the targeted areas, said, “People started running left and right, and smoke was billowing.”

Another resident, Yasser Abdallah, said, “I saw the blast, it was very strong, and there were children killed, some with their hands cut off.”

Global Concern Over Rising Violence

The scale of the attack drew strong international reactions. UN rights chief Volker Turk called the situation “horrific” and said, “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 Red Cross also expressed anger, saying it was “outraged by the devastating death and destruction” in Lebanon.

Dispute Over Whether Lebanon Is Part of Ceasefire

A major point of confusion emerged over whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement.

Israel made its position clear. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military officials said operations against Hezbollah would continue. “The battle in Lebanon continues, and the ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” said spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

However, Pakistan, which helped mediate the ceasefire, had earlier claimed that the agreement applied everywhere, including Lebanon. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the deal extended “everywhere”.

The United States disagreed with this view. Donald Trump stated, “Because of Hezbollah, they were not included in the deal… That’ll get taken care of, too. It’s all right.”

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also confirmed that Lebanon was not part of the agreement.

US Vice President JD Vance later explained that the confusion came from a “misunderstanding”. He said, “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included ‌Lebanon, and it just didn’t.”

Iran Rejects Claims, Warns of Consequences

Iran strongly disagreed with the US and Israeli stance. Tehran said that the attacks on Lebanon violated the ceasefire conditions. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said talks were now “unreasonable” because some conditions of the ceasefire had been broken.

In a strong statement, he said, “In such [a] situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable.”

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also supported this view, saying, “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon… The ball is in the US court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning, saying it would respond if attacks continued: “If the aggressions against dear Lebanon are not stopped immediately, we will do our duty and give a regretful response to the evil aggressors in the region.”

Strait of Hormuz Closure Raises Global Concerns

Following the attacks, reports emerged that Iran had shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Iran’s Fars News Agency claimed that oil tankers were stopped from passing through the strait. However, Iranian officials have not officially confirmed this.

The White House rejected the report, calling it “false” and saying that Trump expected the strait to reopen “immediately, quickly and safely”.

Shipping data showed that no oil or gas tankers had crossed the strait after the ceasefire announcement. However, a few bulk cargo ships were still able to pass.

Experts suggested that the strait was effectively restricted. One shipping expert said that vessels still needed Iran’s permission to pass, meaning normal operations had not resumed.

Shipping Crisis and Economic Impact

The ongoing conflict has already disrupted global shipping. According to the United Nations, around 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers have been stuck in the Gulf since the war began in February.

Even with a ceasefire announcement, experts do not expect a sudden movement of ships through the strait. Control over the route remains a key factor.

What Lies Ahead for the Ceasefire

The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain. Rising tensions, conflicting claims, and continued military actions have made the situation fragile.

However, diplomatic efforts are still ongoing. US Vice President JD Vance, along with negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is expected to meet Iranian officials in Pakistan to continue talks.

For now, the world is closely watching to see whether peace efforts will succeed or if the conflict will escalate again.