The US-Iran ceasefire that came into effect on April 8 was entering its third day on April 11, 2026 with a deeply uneven picture: Gulf operations between American and Iranian forces have largely paused, but Lebanon experienced the deadliest single day of Israeli airstrikes since the war began. At least 254 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory on April 10-11, the sharpest escalation since the ceasefire announcement.
Three days into the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, the Middle East on April 11, 2026 presented two sharply different realities: a grudging pause in direct US-Iran military exchanges in the Gulf, and the single deadliest day of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the war began. At least 254 people were killed in strikes on Lebanese territory on April 10-11 - a figure that, if confirmed, marks a sharp escalation even by the standards of a conflict that has already killed thousands.
The Lebanon Contradiction
When the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, mediator Pakistan stated that all parties would be bound by the agreement. Israel immediately and publicly rejected that framing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and that operations against Hezbollah would continue. The US has not directly contradicted the Israeli position, creating a situation where the ceasefire formally exists but the most active front of the war is explicitly excluded.
The strikes on Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon were particularly deadly. An Iran-backed paramilitary group reported 13 Lebanese security personnel killed on April 10, and warned the Lebanese government against any direct negotiations with Israel. The warning reflects a broader dynamic: Hezbollah and affiliated groups see a Lebanon-specific ceasefire as an Israeli-US attempt to neutralise them while Iran negotiates separately in Islamabad.
Gulf Ceasefire Holds - With Exceptions
In the Gulf, the ceasefire has held between US and Iranian forces. However, on the first full day of the ceasefire, personnel from the US Embassy in Baghdad came under drone attacks by an Iraqi militia aligned with Iran's network. The attack tested whether the ceasefire extends to Iran-aligned non-state actors - a distinction that remains unresolved at the Islamabad talks.
Before the ceasefire, the scale of Gulf strikes had been significant. Iran launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at UAE and Kuwait targets. A fuel storage facility at Kuwait International Airport was hit by Iranian drones, causing a major fire. Fifteen Americans were wounded in an Iranian strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Strait of Hormuz: Ships Still Stranded
The ceasefire has had minimal near-term impact on the Strait of Hormuz. Hundreds of vessels that have been stuck in the region since the start of the war in late February remain anchored or navigating with extreme caution. Iran's control of the waterway - through which roughly 20% of the world's daily oil supply once passed - has slowed passage to a trickle. Energy markets remain on edge until the Islamabad talks resolve the strait's formal status.
The Peace Talk Pressure
The Islamabad talks convened on April 11 against this backdrop of a half-ceasefire. The two-week agreement expires around April 22. A financial strategist estimated a 40% chance it unravels before that deadline. The Lebanon escalation adds pressure on Pakistani mediators to either bring Israel into a ceasefire framework or create a parallel Lebanon track before the clock runs out.
For the US, the most immediate economic priority is the Strait of Hormuz. The six-week blockade cost the US economy significantly, with gas prices hitting $4 per gallon and energy inflation driving March CPI to a 0.9% headline. Every day the strait remains constrained costs the global economy billions.
Source: NBC News · CNN · Al Jazeera
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the US-Iran ceasefire cover Lebanon?
No - and that is the central contradiction of the current situation. Israel has explicitly stated it is not covered by the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Pakistani mediators said Lebanon should be included. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and operations against Hezbollah will continue. The US has not directly contradicted the Israeli position publicly, leaving Lebanon in an ambiguous status outside the ceasefire framework.
Why did Israel strike Lebanon so heavily on April 10-11?
Israel stated that Hezbollah continued rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel even after the US-Iran ceasefire announcement. Israeli officials said the strikes on Nabatiyeh and other areas were responses to specific Hezbollah positions. An Iran-backed paramilitary group warned the Lebanese government against entering direct negotiations with Israel following the death of 13 Lebanese security personnel in Nabatiyeh on April 10.
What is happening with ships in the Strait of Hormuz?
Hundreds of vessels remain stranded or navigating with extreme caution. The ceasefire has had minimal impact on shipping movement so far. Iran's control of the Strait during the war effectively halted roughly 20% of global daily oil supply. Full normalisation of shipping lanes is expected to lag the ceasefire by weeks pending resolution at the Islamabad peace talks.
What attacks occurred on Gulf states during the war?
Before the ceasefire, Iran launched 12 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 19 drones targeting the UAE. Kuwait faced 14 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 46 drones. A fuel storage facility at Kuwait International Airport was hit by Iranian drones, causing a major fire. Fifteen Americans were wounded in an Iranian drone strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base.
What is the humanitarian situation in Lebanon?
The April 10-11 strikes are the deadliest single day in Lebanon since the war escalated. At least 254 people were killed in Israeli operations described as targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Lebanese civil defense and health authorities report hospitals in Nabatiyeh and southern Lebanon overwhelmed. Iran's fourth demand at Islamabad is a West Asia-wide ceasefire that would explicitly include Lebanon.
The Bottom Line
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