A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon has begun, following an announcement by President Trump after separate phone calls with leaders of Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah was not part of the ceasefire discussions. The agreement comes amid an ongoing two-week truce between the U.S., Israel and Iran, set to expire in a few days. Israel has stated it will maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon and will respond if threatened. NPR's Kat Londsorf, reporting from Beirut, said the city has been relatively quiet since the ceasefire took effect at midnight. Residents expressed cautious optimism, aware the pause in fighting may be short-lived. About 20% of Lebanon's population has been displaced due to the conflict. Both Israel and Hezbollah have warned civilians not to return to affected areas, citing ongoing risks. Meanwhile, the U.S. has maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports, restricting maritime movement and impacting Iran's economy. Iran retains control of the Strait of Hormuz, where mines have yet to be cleared by U.S., European or Asian forces. NPR's Quil Lawrence noted that while blockades are typically acts of war, this one may serve as leverage in negotiations. President Trump has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz, former Coast Guard doctor and deputy surgeon general during his first term, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has operated without a confirmed director for nearly the entirety of Trump's second term. If confirmed, Schwartz will serve under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The agency has faced internal turmoil, including staff reductions and program cuts. NPR's Pien Huang reported that remaining employees have lost trust in federal leadership, especially after changes to vaccine policies under Kennedy. Trump claimed in a social media post that Schwartz and other CDC appointees have received bipartisan support, though no specific reactions from lawmakers were cited.
The ceasefire in Lebanon hinges on talks that excluded the very group it aims to restrain—Hezbollah—raising doubts about its durability. With displacement affecting a fifth of Lebanon's population and no safe return in sight, civilians remain caught in a pause, not a resolution. The U.S. naval blockade of Iran, paired with Tehran's hold on the Strait of Hormuz, turns economic pressure into a high-stakes negotiating tool. Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to lead the CDC arrives amid institutional erosion, where restoring public and staff trust may prove as complex as the health crises she would face.
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