Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, sharpening the language of the conflict just as air raid sirens sounded across Israel and Hezbollah launched rockets.
His remarks came shortly after Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key”, according to the live developments reported on Thursday 9 April 2026.
Diplomatic pressure over Lebanon
The latest escalation follows condemnation of Israel’s bombing of Lebanon after the US-Iran ceasefire. The fighting has kept regional diplomacy under intense strain, with efforts continuing to prevent the conflict from widening further.
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In further comments reported by Reuters, she added that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
Her remarks came amid debate over how to keep one of the world’s most important waterways open. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels seeking safe passage through the strait. Trump, meanwhile, suggested on Wednesday that the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture, while the White House said the priority was to reopen the strait without restrictions.
Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz has taken on renewed significance as ceasefire talks continue. Any move to impose tolls or fees on vessels would add another layer of tension to an already volatile situation, with shipping security now closely tied to the broader diplomatic track.
Cooper’s intervention underlined the UK view that maritime access should remain open and cost-free. That position aligns with the White House’s stated preference for restoring passage through the strait without limitations, even as discussions over the broader ceasefire framework remain unsettled.
Questions over the scope of any ceasefire
The central issue in the latest round of diplomacy is not only whether violence can be halted, but also what areas and actors would be covered by any agreement. Cooper’s insistence that Lebanon be included highlights concern that a ceasefire limited to one front could leave other parts of the conflict unresolved.
At the same time, Netanyahu’s statement that there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon signals that Israel is not prepared, at least for now, to suspend military action there. The timing of his remarks, coming after Trump’s call for a lower profile, suggests continued friction between diplomatic messaging and battlefield developments.
With Hezbollah launching rockets and air raid sirens reported across Israel, the situation remains highly unstable. The live report indicates that the region continues to move between military escalation and fragile diplomatic efforts, with no clear sign yet of a comprehensive agreement.
Further reporting is expected as ceasefire discussions continue and governments weigh the implications for both the fighting on the ground and the movement of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
