President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon leaders had agreed to a ceasefire amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.
Trump revealed on Truth Social that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting at 5 P.M. EST to work towards peace between their countries. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were directed to assist in achieving lasting peace, with Aoun and Netanyahu invited to White House peace talks.
Upon the ceasefire announcement, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed support, stating that it was a key objective for Lebanon in recent talks. However, Netanyahu clarified that while Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire, they did not agree to withdraw from southern Lebanon as demanded by Hezbollah, emphasizing the need to prevent any potential invasion and attacks into Israel.
The agreement binds Israel and Lebanon to engage in direct negotiations facilitated by the U.S. to achieve a comprehensive agreement ensuring long-term security, stability, and peace. The initial 10-day ceasefire period may be extended by mutual agreement based on progress in negotiations and Lebanon’s ability to assert sovereignty.
Furthermore, Lebanon must take significant measures to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel, while Israel reserves the right to defend itself against any planned or ongoing attacks. Notably, Hezbollah, a dominant political party in Lebanon, has not been involved in the talks.
Iran emphasized the need to cease strikes in Lebanon as part of a broader peace deal with the U.S. and Israel. The conflict originated from Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel following the U.S. and Israel’s military campaign in Iran, leading to Israel’s strikes across Lebanon and plans for a security zone in the south.
The ceasefire negotiations, initiated by the meeting between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington, marked the first direct talks between the countries in years. Tragically, over 2,100 deaths have occurred in Lebanon during the conflict, with over a million people displaced, while Israel reported 21 casualties from strikes by Iran and Hezbollah.
For more context and fact-checking on Lebanon ceasefire situation, subscribe to read ad-free articles and exclusive content.
