Israeli strikes on Lebanon overshadow Iran truce relief

Relief at a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has given way to alarm that hostilities are still continuing across the region, as Israel launches its largest-ever attacks on Lebanon and Iran strikes the oil facilities of its Gulf neighbors.

World financial markets rose after US President Donald Trump announced the deal two hours before a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its “entire civilisation”.

But even as Israel and the United States halted their attacks on Iran, Israel escalated its parallel war in Lebanon, launching what it described as its largest attack yet, sending huge columns of smoke over Beirut as buildings collapsed.

Lebanon’s health minister said hundreds of people were injured.

Residents said the Israeli attacks took place without the usual warnings for civilians to leave the area.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed source as warning that Iran would withdraw from the ceasefire if attacks against Lebanon continue.

Long after the ceasefire came into force, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain reported new Iranian missile and drone attacks; many of these targeted oil, energy and desalination infrastructure vital to the region.

‼️ Within 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated attack across Lebanon since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion. The attack targeted more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters, military units and command and control centers in Beirut, Bekaa and Southern Lebanon: •…— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 8, 2026

Saudi Arabia’s massive east-west pipeline to the Red Sea has been hit and the damage is being assessed, an oil industry source said.

The pipeline is the main route through which at least some oil can pass through the blockaded strait.

However, Brent crude, which has risen more than 50 percent since the start of the war, fell nearly 16 percent last night, falling below $92 a barrel.

US stocks rose to one-month highs, joining a major global relief rally.

Although the United States and Iran declared victory, their main dispute remained unresolved; each hinged on competing demands for a deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.

The Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed.

A senior Iranian official involved in the discussions told Reuters the talks could open on Thursday or Friday ahead of peace talks.

But any opening would be conditional on agreeing to a framework for a ceasefire and would be “limited”, with ships still needing Iranian permission to pass.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and US delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday, and the Iranian president confirmed his side would attend.

Since many of Iran’s senior political leaders were killed in the war, the Iranian delegation is expected to be led by Parliament Speaker and former Revolutionary Guard Commander Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi.

However, there has been no official confirmation from the US regarding plans to attend face-to-face talks.

US Vice President J.D. Vance, who is seen as a potential head of the US delegation, said Trump told negotiators to try to reach an agreement, but Vance stopped short of confirming talks at a specific time or location.

In a series of posts on the Internet, Trump announced that new 50 percent tariffs would be imposed on all goods coming from all countries that supply weapons to Iran.

He emphasized that Iran had undergone a “regime change” and would agree not to enrich uranium that could be used in nuclear warheads.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States had won a decisive military victory and Iran’s missile program had been functionally destroyed.

Crowds took to the streets of Iran throughout the night to celebrate, waving Iranian flags and burning US and Israeli flags.

“The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its unjust, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement. he said.

If peace talks begin in Islamabad on Friday as announced, they will begin with the main demands of the warring parties remaining unresolved.

While the USA presented its demands with a 15-item plan, Iran responded with a 10-item plan.