Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a 10-day ceasefire starting on Thursday at 2100 GMT, following recent fighting between the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and Israeli forces.
He said the agreement came after he had "had excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"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," the U.S. president posted on his Truth Social platform.
Lebanon welcomes 'pivotal' agreement
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire calling it "a pivotal Lebanese demand we have pursued since the first day of the war" in a post on X.
He said achieving a truce had been Lebanon's "primary objective" following Tuesday's talks in Washington involving the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The meeting marked the first direct talks between the countries in decades.
Salam also expressed "gratitude for all the regional and international efforts that contributed to reaching this outcome," naming the United States, France, E.U. countries as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan.
There was initially no official response from the Israeli government, but Israeli media reported that Netanyahu had ordered troops to remain in southern Lebanon, citing comments made to Israeli ministers.
The Israeli prime minister also told ministers that he had agreed to the ceasefire upon request by Trump, broadcaster N12 reported.
Lebanese state news agency NNA reported that Israeli attacks continued in southern Lebanon in the hours ahead of the ceasefire's expected start, including a strike that killed eight.
The wild card: Hezbollah
But Hezbollah - which Israel has insisted is its target in Lebanon and not the Lebanese people - said any ceasefire in Lebanon "must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement."
The group added that Israel's presence on Lebanon's territory "grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it," leaving it initially unclear whether it would adhere to the ceasefire.
Trump plans to host White House talks
Trump said he has directed Vice President JD Vance, Rubio and "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE."
In a separate post published shortly afterwards, Trump said he plans to invite Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for "the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983."
"Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!"
A history of conflict
The relationship between Israel and Lebanon has been marred by conflict for decades and the two neighbours are officially in a state of war.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah flared up again after Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel at the start of the Iran war. So far more than 2,000 people killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since early March, according to Lebanese figures.
The Israeli military responded by ramping up strikes on Lebanon and occupying parts of southern Lebanon near the Israeli border.
The Lebanese government is not an active party to the hostilities and is seeking de-escalation and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Israel says it aims to secure the disarmament of Hezbollah and achieve a lasting peace.
It was initially unclear how the ceasefire was negotiated, after the Lebanese Presidency said earlier that Aoun had refused to speak with Netanyahu on the phone.
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