Israel and Lebanon Agree to 10-Day Ceasefire
United States President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a **10-day ceasefire**. The truce is set to commence on Thursday at **5 PM US East Coast Time** (21:00 GMT).
Trump shared the news on social media following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. He stated, “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST.”
Lebanese PM Welcomes Truce
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the announcement via a post on X, calling the ceasefire a “**central Lebanese demand** we have pursued since the first day of the war” and the primary objective of Tuesday’s meeting between Lebanese and Israeli officials in the US.
Lebanon became involved in the **US-Israeli conflict with Iran** on March 2, when Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group, launched rockets at Israel. This action was a response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28 in an Israeli strike on the initial day of the war on Iran.
Impact of Israeli Operations
Israeli forces retaliated with an intense campaign that has since resulted in **over 2,196 deaths** in Lebanon and thousands more wounded. Israel has also issued forced evacuation orders affecting approximately 15 percent of Lebanese territory. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported that strikes over the past two days have killed nine people, including a paramedic, across the southern district of Tyre.
Prime Minister Salam offered prayers for the victims and expressed hope that the **more than one million people displaced** by Israel’s bombardment and invasion of Lebanon would be able to return home “as soon as possible.”
Path Towards Lasting Peace
Trump indicated his intention to invite Netanyahu and Aoun for direct talks, expressing his belief that both sides desire to resolve their differences and that this resolution would occur “quickly.” He also mentioned directing Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, to work towards a lasting settlement.
Hezbollah’s Stance and Diplomatic Efforts
Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi informed AFP on Thursday that the group would honor the US-brokered ceasefire if Israeli attacks on its fighters completely ceased. This ceasefire follows a week of intense diplomatic activity.
On Tuesday, Lebanese and Israeli envoys held their **first direct diplomatic contact in decades** in Washington, D.C., hosted by Secretary Rubio. Both delegations described the talks as positive, although President Aoun reportedly declined to speak directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu, a position Washington “understands,” according to a government official familiar with the matter.
Al Jazeera’s chief US correspondent, Alan Fisher, reported from the White House that Trump had attempted to arrange a phone call between the two leaders, but the Lebanese side refused prior to a ceasefire being established.
Iran’s Role in Ceasefire Demand
Fisher also noted that the ceasefire in Lebanon was a **demand from Iran**, which had communicated its desire for a deal, provided the fighting ceased first. He suggested that Trump saw an opportunity to facilitate this by applying pressure on both Lebanese and Israeli parties, potentially opening the door for a broader agreement involving Iran.
Separately, a two-week US-Iran ceasefire, which the US and Israel clarified does not cover Lebanon, is due to expire on Wednesday, with new negotiations anticipated in Pakistan. Iran had made securing a Lebanon ceasefire a **firm prerequisite** for any potential talks, with Tehran’s parliament speaker emphasizing its importance as being “just as important” as ending the war with the US.
Hezbollah Rejects Diplomatic Process
However, Hezbollah is not a party to this agreement and has **explicitly rejected the diplomatic process**. Its lawmakers have labeled negotiations with Israel as “wrong” and accused the Lebanese government of making detrimental concessions.
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