A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire was shattered within hours today, April 8, 2026, as Israel launched its largest coordinated air assault of the war. Dubbed Operation Eternal Darkness by Israeli media, the military blitz saw over 100 airstrikes rain down across Lebanon in just 10 minutes, leaving major cities in ruins and the global peace deal on life support.
The devastation is catastrophic. Lebanon's Health Ministry reports at least 254 people killed and more than 1,165 wounded in a single day. Residential buildings in Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon were leveled without warning, with many of the strikes hitting busy commercial areas during rush hour. One strike even targeted a cemetery in the village of Shmestar during a funeral, killing at least ten mourners.
The timing of the massacre has sparked international outrage. Late last night, Pakistan and Iran announced a two-week regional ceasefire, but the White House and Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly clarified that the deal does not include Hezbollah. Netanyahu signaled his intent to continue the mission until the "Northern residents" are safe, effectively decoupling the Lebanon front from the Iran truce.
In a retaliatory move that has sent shockwaves through the global economy, Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claims the Israeli strikes are a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement, and state-run news agencies warned that tanker traffic would come to a "complete stop."
Meanwhile, hospitals in Beirut are completely flooded with casualties, and the American University of Beirut Medical Center has issued an urgent appeal for blood donations. With civilian areas transformed into combat zones and the primary oil artery of the world shut down, the dream of a peaceful April is rapidly turning into a nightmare of total regional war.