United States President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, following high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at easing escalating tensions in the region.
The US President said the truce was reached after what he described as “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, adding that both leaders had committed to the temporary halt in hostilities as a step towards peace.
The ceasefire comes days after Washington and Tehran agreed to a separate, fragile truce, which had paused a wider regional conflict. However, tensions have persisted, particularly in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have continued operations against Hezbollah positions amid Iran’s insistence that any ceasefire must extend to all fronts.
In a social media post, Trump said the ceasefire would formally begin at 5 pm EST, noting that Israel and Lebanon had recently held talks in Washington for the first time in over three decades. He highlighted the role of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in facilitating the dialogue.
“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE,” Trump said.
He added that he had directed Vice President JD Vance and senior officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to work closely with both sides to ensure long-term stability in the region.
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Trump further said he would invite Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for talks, which he described as the first meaningful engagement between the two countries since 1983. He expressed confidence that sustained dialogue could lead to a broader peace framework.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the announcement, calling the ceasefire a key objective of Beirut’s diplomatic efforts. He said the truce offered hope for civilians affected by the conflict and those displaced by recent hostilities.
“I welcome the announcement of the ceasefire declared by President Trump, which is a central Lebanese demand we have pursued since the first day of the war,” Salam said, while also acknowledging international efforts, including those by the United States, European nations, and regional partners.
The conflict had intensified after Hezbollah launched attacks in support of Iran earlier this year, prompting Israeli military retaliation in Lebanon. The latest ceasefire, while limited in duration, is being viewed as a critical window for diplomatic engagement.
Officials, however, cautioned that the situation remains volatile, with the success of the truce hinging on continued restraint and progress in negotiations.
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