Russia welcomes US-backed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

The Kremlin said on Friday it welcomed a U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and hoped it would help prevent a recurrence of military clashes.

Dmitry Antonov and Anna Peverieri/Reuters

April 17, 2026

Russia welcomes US-backed Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

Children stand next to an ambulance at the site of an Israeli strike carried out before a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Tyre, Lebanon, April 17, 2026.

Louisa Gouliamaki/Reuters

MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on Friday it welcomed a U.S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and hoped it would help prevent a recurrence of military clashes.

"We welcome this decision and hope that, within the timeframe set out, it will be possible to reach agreements that will prevent a recurrence of armed clashes," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Thursday following talks this week brokered by Washington, as U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war.

-Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Anna Peverieri; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Reuters