Israel and Lebanon are due to talk on Tuesday in Washington, with discussions mediated by the US, according to the Lebanese president's office.

Friday marks six months since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect, but progress remains limited. The fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants has mostly stopped, yet challenges persist.

"The ceasefire is barely a tactical pause between actors whose core objectives remain fundamentally unchanged," write Pegah Banihashemi and Paul Poast

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed despite a ceasefire deal, with 800 tankers among 3,200 vessels backed up and mariners stranded.

Iran said passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be allowed if vessels coordinate with its armed forces. But it wasn't clear whether Tehran would seek to charge a fee or limit traffic. For now, an uneasy ceasefire is in place,

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a 32-hour ceasefire with Ukraine for the Orthodox Easter holiday, following an earlier offer from Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky for a pause in hostilities.

Scenes in Tehran reflect a mixed atmosphere since the start of a ceasefire on April 8, with negotiations set to begin in Pakistan. In Iran's capital, there is little sense of celebration as some mark

The temporary break in fighting appeared fragile as Israeli forces continued pummeling Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz saw only minimal shipping traffic.