Why ceasefires haven’t stopped deadly strikes in Gaza, Lebanon or the Gulf

Across the Middle East, three separate ceasefire deals are currently in effect.

Across the Middle East, three separate ceasefire deals are currently in effect. In all three, deadly strikes are still a frequent occurrence.

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The contradiction has exposed a growing question: What does a ceasefire actually mean when the fighting never fully stops?

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that promises to stop fighting in the region cannot always be trusted, as he addressed the continued exchanges of fire with Iran in the Gulf.