Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel and Lebanon

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israeli and Lebanese leaders have reached a 10-day ceasefire. This development follows negotiations mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to reports from Truth Social, the agreement was made between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, with the ceasefire set to begin at 5 PM EDT. Notably, it marked the first meeting of the two countries’ ambassadors in more than 34 years, which took place in Washington, D.C.

Trump stated, “I just had great conversations with the esteemed President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel. The two leaders agreed to formally begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5:00 p.m. ET to achieve peace between our two countries.” He further explained how he directed key officials to work closely with both nations to pursue lasting peace, emphasizing the importance of this agreement as part of his broader diplomatic efforts.

The conflict between Lebanon and Israel escalated on March 2, triggered by attacks from Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group. Despite an earlier two-week ceasefire announced by Trump on April 7, tensions persisted as Israel continued its military actions in Lebanon, complicating the fragile peace efforts.

Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Mousawi remarked that while they had complied with the terms of the ceasefire, Israel had violated the agreement, claiming continuous attacks on Lebanon. Aoun voiced the necessity for a formal ceasefire leading to direct negotiations to resolve the ongoing crisis.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have indicated their intention to establish control over all territories south of the Litani River, making it clear that military operations against Hezbollah operatives would continue until they can ensure safety for Israel’s northern regions.