UPDATE: Aoun conditions dialogue with Israel on a ceasefire and the departure of Israeli troops from Lebanon
New information reveals that the following story has emerged from the international scene.
04/16/2026 – 13:36Iran considers the ceasefire in Lebanon a priority and important Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, president of the Iranian Parliament, stated through a message on Telegram that the establishment of a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon is a primary issue and “as important” as stability in Iran. After holding talks with his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, Ghalibaf stressed that the Islamic Republic is working to force a ceasefire. permanent fire in all conflict zones, in compliance with the truce agreement reached on April 8 with the United States. “We are striving to force our enemies to establish a permanent ceasefire in all conflict zones, in accordance with the agreement,” he said. 04/16/2026 – 13:19An Israeli attack hits a highway in Lebanon that connects Beirut with Damascus The state agency National News Agency reports that an Israeli attack hit a car on the highway that connects the Lebanese capital, Beirut, with the Syrian capital, Damascus, causing the death of one person. The attack occurred in the Dahr al-Baidar area, in the mountains east of Beirut. 04/16/2026 – 12:41Lebanon conditions dialogue with Israel on a ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops The Presidency of Lebanon reported through its official account on During the meeting, Aoun emphasized that the sovereignty of these negotiations rests exclusively with the Lebanese authorities and that the withdrawal of Israeli forces is a fundamental step for the redeployment of the Lebanese army to the international borders. Likewise, the president reaffirmed the State’s commitment to the exclusivity of weapons to guarantee public safety, while the United Kingdom confirmed a humanitarian aid package of £20.5 million to assist the displaced. 04/16/2026 – 12:17Israeli attacks destroyed a strategic bridge in southern Lebanon (ANI) “The enemy aircraft carried out two consecutive attacks against the Qasmiyeh bridge, the last bridge between the region of Tire and Sidon, completely destroying it,” reported ANI, the official Lebanese news agency 04/16/2026 – 11:34The WHO denounces attacks against two desalination plants in Kuwait Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the WHO, denounced attacks against two desalination plants in Kuwait, warning that these attacks on civil infrastructure violate international law and put critical services such as hospitals at risk. Although, he assured that now the water supply is stable in a country with 90% dependence on these plants. 04/16/2026 – 11:01Senior Iranian official affirms that Iran and the US make partial progress under Pakistani mediation but maintain nuclear friction Iran and the United States have managed to reduce differences within the framework of a two-week truce after the mediation of the head of the Pakistani Army, Asim Munir, which opens the possibility of extending the ceasefire and resuming dialogue, according to a senior Iranian official. Although the official warned that significant disagreements persist, mainly focused on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. 04/16/2026 – 10:57No date set for second round of US-Iran talks (Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson) 04/16/2026 – 10:56Iran issues hostage warning A senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that the Islamic Republic would take US troops hostage if they invade the country and sink any American ship that complies with the military blockade, imposed by Trump, in the Strait of Hormuz. Hardline leader Mohsen Rezaei stated that it would be “great” for Washington to launch a ground invasion, since “we would take thousands of hostages and, for each hostage, we would get a billion dollars.” 04/16/2026 – 09:49Israeli Prime Minister to speak with Lebanese President, according to security cabinet official Gila Gamliel, a member of the Israeli security cabinet, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a conversation with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. In the statement given to Israel Army Radio, Gamliel did not go into details about when such a conversation would take place. 04/16/2026 – 09:14 WHO chief demands protection of health infrastructure in Lebanon after attacks on hospitals The director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported through his X account that the Tebnine Government Hospital, one of the busiest trauma centers in southern Lebanon, suffered damage after consecutive attacks on April 12 and 14. According to the official, the impacts injured 11 workers and affected critical areas such as the pharmacy, outpatient clinics and the emergency department, damaging vital equipment such as ventilators and monitors. Ghebreyesus stressed that, since the beginning of the conflict, the WHO has recorded 133 attacks against the health infrastructure in the country, resulting in 88 deaths and the closure of 5 hospitals and 56 primary care centers. 04/16/2026 – 08:36Lebanon “is not aware” of an upcoming contact with Israel (official source) Lebanon “is not aware” of an upcoming contact with Israel, an official source told AFP. “We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side and have not been informed through official channels,” the source told AFP. 04/16/2026 – 07:35Australia and Malaysia agree to shield their energy supplies in the face of instability in the Middle East The two countries have issued a joint statement in which they commit to strengthening the resilience of their energy supply chains and guaranteeing the stability of trade flows. Both governments expressed “deep concern” about the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and the direct repercussions that this crisis has on their region, specifically in relation to the increase in prices and the security of fuel supply. 04/16/2026 – 07:11Trump says leaders of Israel and Lebanon will hold talks this Thursday US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will talk this Thursday, after having held a high-level in-person meeting in Washington on Tuesday, the first negotiation of its kind since 1993. “We’re trying to get a little bit of room for maneuver between Israel and Lebanon. It’s been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, as 34 years. It will happen tomorrow,” Trump wrote without specifying who will participate or offering more details. 04/16/2026 – 07:07Hezbollah claims responsibility for several attacks in northern Israel The Lebanese pro-Iran Shiite movement has claimed responsibility this morning for several attacks against military positions in northern Israel, citing the sending of swarms of drones towards Hanita and Liman Barracks, and a salvo of rockets towards Alajal. 04/16/2026 – 07:04 Welcome to the coverage of the most relevant events of April 16 in the war in the Middle East.
What This Means:
Understanding these events is crucial for anyone following international affairs closely.
World leaders are expected to respond to these developments in the coming days.
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Source: This article was originally published in another language by France 24 – Noticias y actualidad internacional en vivo and has been translated and adapted for our global English-speaking audience. Read the original article here.