Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks
What you need to know
- US President Donald Trump says the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will be extended by three weeks
- The remarks come after Israel struck southern Lebanon and militants Hezbollah fired at northern Israel on Thursday
- Trump rules out using nuclear weapons against Iran
- Israel says waiting for 'green light' from US to 'return Iran to Stone Age'
- Trump orders the US Navy to 'shoot and kill' mine-laying boats in the Strait of Hormuz
- Iran's Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf says a full ceasefire can only hold if Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports
Here is a roundup of the latest developments from the Iran war on Thursday, April 23:
Skip next section IN DEPTH: What is Europe's plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz?04/24/2026April 24, 2026IN DEPTH: What is Europe's plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz?
Anchal VohraFrance and the UK are leading efforts to establish a multinational mission to safeguard shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Questions remain about the scope of the operation and whether it can bring lasting stability.
Read more about the joint Franco-British bid to safely resume maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in this report by DW's Brussels correspondent Anchal Vohra.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjvDSkip next section Israel, Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks, Trump says04/23/2026April 23, 2026Israel, Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks, Trump says
US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire for an additional three weeks, following a rare meeting with envoys from the two countries at the White House.
"The meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah," Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform.
The initial 10-day ceasefire took effect last Friday and was due to expire on Monday.
Trump also said he sees a "great chance" for a peace deal between Israel and Lebanon this year.
"I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun," he added.
While Lebanon is not an active party to the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese-based, Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, the government in Beirut has been urging de-escalation after fighting between Israel and the militia flared again since the outbreak of the Iran war.
Lebanon and Israel do not have diplomatic relations. The last time they held direct, high-level talks was in 1993.
Despite the 10-day ceasefire, the strikes have continued, including on Wednesday when a Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli attack.
What is Iran's 'Axis of Resistance'?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjzzSkip next section Israeli military says it intercepted rockets launched from Lebanon04/23/2026April 23, 2026Israeli military says it intercepted rockets launched from Lebanon
The Israeli military said several rockets fire from Lebanon into northern Israel were intercepted. Earlier, it said sirens sounded in the Shtula area near the border.
The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to the country's ceasefire "violations."
"In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the Israeli enemy's violation of the ceasefire and its targeting of the town of Yater in southern Lebanon," Hezbollah "targeted the Shtula settlement with a rocket salvo", the group said in a statement.
These attacks occurred as the second meeting between the US ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel was set to take place in Washington.
At that meeting, Beirut was expected to request an extension of the 10-day ceasefire that went into effect last Friday.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjwcSkip next section Trump rules out using nuclear weapon against Iran04/23/2026April 23, 2026Trump rules out using nuclear weapon against Iran
After previously threatening to destroy Iranian civilization, US President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out striking Iran with a nuclear weapon.
When asked whether he would use such a weapon, Trump told reporters at the White House: "Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it."
"No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody," he added.
The White House has said ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear weapon is a "core" goal of the war against Iran.
Trump acknowledged that Iran might have loaded up their weaponry "a little bit" during the two-week ceasefire, but claimed the US military could eliminate those capabilities in "about one day."
He also repeated his claim that the joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran over the past two months had meant "their navy ... their air force is gone."
"I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now... but I don't want to do that. I want to have it everlasting," the US president said.
Trump was also asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal with Iran and replied, "Don't rush me."
He also told reporters that Americans should expect higher gas prices "for a little while."
Since the start of the war in Iran in late February, energy prices have risen around the world.
The Day with Phil Gayle: "US signaling weakness"
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjvKSkip next section France, UK see 'real progress' in Hormuz military plans04/23/2026April 23, 2026France, UK see 'real progress' in Hormuz military plans
Karl Sexton EditorDefense Ministers from Britain and France have said they hope that their military plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz will restore trade flows through the vital waterway.
According to top defense officials, the practicalities of a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in a key waterway following a sustainable ceasefire were discussed at a two-day meeting in London.
The meeting's goal is to form a "defensive, multinational mission that will strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping, and, if necessary, clear mines and protect vessels when the hostilities end", British Defense Minister John Healey said.
In a joint statement, Healey and his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, said they were "confident that real progress can be made."
On Wednesday, Iran said it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States maintained its blockade of Iranian ports.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cjv2Skip next section A third US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East04/23/2026April 23, 2026A third US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East
The US military announced that the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush has arrived in the Middle East.
"Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) sails in the Indian Ocean in the US Central Command area of responsibility," the military command responsible for the Middle East wrote on X.
This brings the total number of American aircraft carriers operating in the region to three.
According to social media posts by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier was operating in the Red Sea on Thursday, and a third carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is also in the region.
Each aircraft carrier travels with a group of supporting warships.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjtqSkip next section WATCH: Iran seizes two container ships 04/23/2026April 23, 2026WATCH: Iran seizes two container ships
Craig CrowtherTehran announced that it had seized two container ships attempting to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
Both Iran and the US are now using this vital shipping lane as leverage by blocking it.
Iran seizes two container ships
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjrwSkip next section IN DEPTH: Ceasefire extended: What's next in the Iran war?04/23/2026April 23, 2026IN DEPTH: Ceasefire extended: What's next in the Iran war?
David EhlWith no fixed ceasefire deadline for now, the US and Iran are looking for ways to safeguard their own interests.
The two sides may re-enter negotiations, close the gap between their positions, and eventually reach a peaceful agreement. Or the tone will continue to deteriorate, and the fighting may resume.
DW takes a look at the main sticking points and explains some key issues.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjrOSkip next section Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, urges peace talks04/23/2026April 23, 2026Pope condemns killing of protesters in Iran, urges peace talks
During a press conference on his return flight from Africa, Pope Leo XIV firmly condemned the killing of protesters in Iran and urged the United States and Iran to resume peace talks.
"I condemn all actions that are unjust. I condemn the taking of people's lives," the pope said in response to a question about reports that Iran has killed thousands of protesters.
"When a regime, when a country takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned," he added.
Leo also urged the United States and Iran to resume negotiations. He called for a new "culture of peace" to replace the recourse to violence whenever conflicts arise.
US President Donald Trump attacked Leo as "terrible" on social media on April 12 after the pope emerged as an outspoken critic of the war with Iran and the president's hardline anti-immigration policies.
Two days later, Trump posted: "will someone please tell Pope Leo" about the deaths of Iranian protesters.
Can Pope Leo move President Trump on the Iran war?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjqISkip next section Air defense engages 'hostile targets' over Tehran, Iranian media report04/23/2026April 23, 2026Air defense engages 'hostile targets' over Tehran, Iranian media report
Iran's Mehr news agency reported that air defense systems were heard engaging what were described as "hostile targets" in parts of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Earlier, Iranian media reported that air defense batteries had been activated in the city.
The reports could not be independently verified but the AFP news agency later cited a security source saying that Israel was not currently attacking Iran.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjlRSkip next section Israel says waiting for 'green light' from US to 'return Iran to Stone Age'04/23/2026April 23, 2026Israel says waiting for 'green light' from US to 'return Iran to Stone Age'
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that his country is ready to renew its fight against Iran but is waiting for a signal from the United States.
"The IDF is ready both defensively and offensively, and the targets have been marked," Katz said in a video statement.
"We are awaiting a green light from the United States first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty," Katz added.
Katz also referenced Trump's own rhetoric, saying Israel was ready "to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age by destroying key energy and electricity facilities and dismantling its national economic infrastructure."
Katz said that this time, when the attack resumes, it will be "different and lethal." He added that devastating blows will be delivered to "the most sensitive points."
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the April 8 ceasefire between the United States and Iran, aiming to create space for negotiations with Tehran. However, plans for renewed negotiations in Pakistan remain uncertain.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjfqSkip next section Israeli strike kills 3 in southern Lebanon, medics say04/23/2026April 23, 2026Israeli strike kills 3 in southern Lebanon, medics say
The Lebanese Health Ministry said an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed three people, despite a 10-day truce in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
The ministry stated that "an Israeli airstrike on the Shoukine road in the Nabatieh district", more than 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Israel, killed three people. It added that a strike on the village of Yater wounded two people, including a child.
These attacks occurred just hours before the second meeting between the US ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel in Washington. At this meeting, Beirut is expected to request an extension of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that it had killed two armed individuals in the Aynata area of southern Lebanon after identifying them as approaching soldiers and posing an "immediate threat."
It was unclear whether the incident was related to the strikes reported earlier in the area by Lebanon's Health Ministry.
Israel‑Hezbollah ceasefire holds despite sporadic clashes
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjchSkip next section Mojtaba Khamenei seriously wounded but 'mentally sharp' — report04/23/2026April 23, 2026Mojtaba Khamenei seriously wounded but 'mentally sharp' — report
According to a New York Times report, Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was seriously wounded in the US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, but remains mentally sharp.
The report cited several unnamed Iranian officials and said that Mojtaba Khamenei had "at least for now" delegated decision-making to generals in the Revolutionary Guard. He has not appeared in public since succeeding his father, issuing only written statements. This had led some commentators to suggest that he was dead.
According to the report, although Mojtaba Khamenei was "gravely wounded" in the February 28 airstrike, he is "mentally sharp and engaged."
"One leg was operated on three times, and he is awaiting a prosthetic. He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak," the New York Times cited the officials as saying.
For security reasons, Mojtaba Khamenei remains in hiding. He only passes on handwritten messages, according to the report. Although Revolutionary Guard commanders do not visit him, President Masoud Pezeshkian — a heart surgeon — has reportedly been involved in his care.
Iran elects Khamenei's son as supreme leader
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CjXoSkip next section UN says Lebanon wants peacekeepers to stay next year04/23/2026April 23, 2026UN says Lebanon wants peacekeepers to stay next year
Lebanon has expressed a desire for UN peacekeepers to maintain a presence in the country once their current mandate expires next year, according to UN officials.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said the UN Security Council has requested a review of all options, the results of which are to be presented by June 1.
Since 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has monitored the border area between Israel and Lebanon. Its peacekeepers, known as "blue helmets" for their distinctive headgear, have played a key role in maintaining peace in the region.
Amid decades of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, the troops have repeatedly found themselves in the crosshairs. On Saturday, two French soldiers were killed and two more were injured when they came under fire while clearing explosive devices from a road in southern Lebanon.
According to the UN, the current mission includes approximately 8,500 troops from nearly 50 countries and expires at the end of the year.
"In terms of the post-UNIFIL, we're currently in the process of working on these options," said Lacroix, adding that the Lebanese government has made it "very clear they want to keep UN presence, not necessarily identical to UNIFIL."
Lacroix did not elaborate on the different options, but he said that any potential presence would probably be smaller than that of UNIFIL.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CjUSSkip next section IN DEPTH: Iran's aily life shadowed by war, scarcity and fear04/23/2026April 23, 2026IN DEPTH: Iran's aily life shadowed by war, scarcity and fear
Shabnam von Hein | Niloofar Gholami | Sarah MajidiThe US naval blockade aims to put pressure on the Iranian regime, but it is ordinary Iranians who mostly feel the effects. They find their lives shaped by growing exhaustion and fear of job loss.
Many families are now living off their savings and do not know how long they can endure the situation. Sources from Iran report that numerous young people have returned to their parents' homes. Others are moving out of large cities such as Tehran.
Read more about how the war has worsened living conditions in Iran.
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