“Israel launched on Wednesday what it said was the heaviest wave of bombardment in Lebanon yet in its monthlong war against Iran-backed Hezbollah as a U.S.-Israeli cease-fire with Iran took effect,” the New York Times reports.

“The sharp escalation — with more than 100 airstrikes in the space of just 10 minutes — punctuated an announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that Lebanon would be excluded from the truce with Iran.”

CNN: Israel launches fresh strike in Beirut.

Axios: U.S. says Iran ceasefire doesn’t apply to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

“Trump is a military moron.”

— Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), quoted by the Wall Street Journal.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared a “decisive military victory” over Iran, saying the country’s missile program was functionally destroyed, the Wall Street Journal reports.

New York Times: “Mr. Trump’s tactic of escalating his rhetoric to astronomical levels certainly helped him find an offramp he had been seeking for weeks. That success alone may fuel his belief that the tactics he learned in the New York real estate world — ignore old conventions, make maximalist demands — works in geopolitics as well.”

“Without question, it was a down-to-the-wire tactical victory, one that should, at least temporarily, get oil, fertilizer and helium flowing again through the Strait of Hormuz, and calm markets that feared a global energy shock would lead to a global recession.”

“But it resolved none of the fundamental issues that led to the war.”

President Trump said the U.S. will impose tariffs of 50% on “any and all” goods imported to the country from any nation “supplying military weapons to Iran”, CNBC reports.

Trump said in a Truth Social post that any country found to be supplying Iran with weapons would be subject to the levy “immediately”, with no “exclusions or exemptions.”

Bloomberg: “The big question this morning is what Donald Trump gained from launching a war that killed thousands (including 13 US service members), shook the global economy, frayed relationships with allies, and damaged his political standing at home.”

“At first glance, not much.”

“A big day for World Peace!”

— President Trump, on Truth Social, just 16 hours after threatening to erase an entire civilization off the face of the planet.

Playbook: “Given the unpopularity of this war in America, the devastating impact on oil prices, the rapidly worsening global economic outlook and Trump’s looming May 14 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it’s hard to imagine Trump reviving his bombing campaign. Oil prices have already plummeted below $100 a barrel following the ceasefire announcement. Stock markets are surging. He’s not going to want to go back.”

“So brace yourselves for the White House comms blitz. Your zone is about to be flooded with Trump world messages that America won the war, even before this two-week negotiation gets underway.”

Trump to AFP last night: “This is a total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it.”