Trump Announces Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon
On Thursday, President Donald Trump shared that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, starting at 5 p.m. ET. He labeled it a significant move towards ending the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Trump mentioned that he had separate discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They both agreed to commence formal negotiations for a more extensive peace agreement.
“I just had great conversations with the esteemed President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He has instructed Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan “Razin” Kaine to collaborate with both nations to foster what he referred to as “lasting peace.”
Additionally, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) discovered a cache of Hezbollah weapons hidden in a Lebanese hospital.
The President later extended an invitation to Netanyahu and Aoun to meet at the White House, indicating this would mark the first significant talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983.
“Both sides want peace, and I believe it will happen soon!” Trump asserted.
This announcement followed several days of intense U.S. diplomatic efforts, during which a prior disagreement regarding Aoun’s willingness to meet directly with Netanyahu seemed to have found resolution.
“We’re trying to create some breathing room,” Trump noted on Truth Social, mentioning that it had been about 34 years since Israeli and Lebanese leaders had direct communication, saying, “and it will happen tomorrow.” However, prior to the ceasefire agreement, Lebanese officials stated that Aoun wouldn’t engage directly with Netanyahu until there was a truce.
In conversations with Reuters, three Lebanese officials indicated that Aoun had no intention of meeting Netanyahu anytime soon. In fact, two officials shared that the Lebanese embassy in Washington had conveyed this stance before Aoun’s conversation with Rubio.
A senior Lebanese figure later emphasized the significant pressure within Lebanon against any further engagement with Israel, given the ongoing conflict. Many Lebanese feel the government had already entered discussions without any reciprocal benefits, viewing a ceasefire as essential before any direct communications could take place.
Yet, shortly after these statements, Aoun announced he had spoken directly with Trump.
Aoun expressed appreciation for Trump’s efforts to establish a ceasefire and encourage what he termed lasting peace and stability, which could lead to a more comprehensive regional peace process.
Reflecting on his military background as the former commander of the U.S.-backed Lebanese army, Aoun added that Israel’s exit from southern Lebanon is crucial for the Lebanese army to fully engage in border security.
This diplomatic tension occurs as the White House strives to forge a broader agreement to conclude the regional war that escalated when Hezbollah, an Iranian ally, joined the conflict on March 2.
Just over a year following the last significant Israel-Hezbollah war, Hezbollah’s involvement has opened a new battleground in Lebanon. Pakistan, which helped mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran previously, emphasized that resolving the conflict in Lebanon is vital for maintaining peace agreements.
Israel Issues Warnings to Hezbollah
Concurrently, Israel has warned Hezbollah against escalating tensions, emphasizing the need for Lebanon to fulfill its commitments regarding arms. Amid continued hostilities, fighting has intensified, particularly around Bint Jubeir, known as a Hezbollah stronghold.
Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that Israeli forces are close to achieving a significant defeat of Hezbollah in this area. The immediate Israeli objective is to push Hezbollah away from the border to eliminate threats from anti-tank missiles and other weaponry targeting communities in northern Israel.
Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated that the military has managed to establish a defensive line several kilometers into Lebanese territory to prevent Hezbollah militants from targeting Israeli towns.
Lebanese reports suggest that recent Israeli airstrikes destroyed key infrastructure, isolating parts of Lebanon significantly.
Continued Escalation Between Hezbollah and Israel
Moreover, on Thursday, Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, triggering air raid sirens and sending residents into shelters, although no injuries were reported immediately.
The conflict has taken a severe toll since it began, with over 2,100 casualties and more than 1.2 million people displaced in Lebanon. In the same duration, Israeli officials reported the deaths of two civilians and 13 soldiers as a consequence of Hezbollah’s attacks.
Despite reaching out for comments, responses from the State Department, Lebanese officials in Washington, and the Israeli government have yet to materialize.
