Trump announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

President Donald Trump announced a ten–day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, describing the truce as an initial step toward a permanent end to hostilities between the two nations. 

He also mentioned an invitation he sent to the prime minister of Israel and the Lebanese president for further talks at the White House.

The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, follows high–level discussions held in Washington earlier this week. The ceasefire is scheduled to take effect today at 5pm EST.

The President stated that the agreement was reached following personal conversations with the Israeli and Lebanese leaders, noting that representatives from both countries met in Washington on Tuesday, marking the first such diplomatic encounter in 34 years.

‘I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,’ Trump wrote. ‘These two leaders have agreed that in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a ten-day ceasefire at 5pm EST.’

Trump explains further that the administration has tasked a senior delegation to oversee the transition from a temporary truce to a long–term agreement. This team includes Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine.

The President added: ‘It has been my honor to solve nine wars across the world, and this will be my tenth, so let’s get it done!’

This ceasefire comes amid heightened regional tension and follows months of diplomatic maneuvering by the White House.

While the ten–day window is brief, the pause is intended to provide the necessary space for formal negotiations regarding long–term stability.

The military campaign between Lebanon and Israel has become a major sticking point in Trump’s quest to bring an end to the war in Iran.

The Israeli-US strikes against Iran on March 2 intensified already frayed relationships in the region. 

Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, has been participating in the armed conflict by launching missile attacks against Israel. 

Israel’s retaliation in Lebanon has resulted in a catastrophic death toll, with estimates exceeding 2,000 Lebanese casualties. More than one million people have also been forced to flee their homes. 

Earlier this month, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said the nation was planning to set up a security zone on Lebanese territory, which would prevent thousands from returning to their homes. 

In an effort to broker peace, several Lebanese and Israeli officials met at the US Department of State headquarters in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. 

Rubio hosted the meeting, which included Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. 

‘We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation, and that’s the most positive thing we could have come away with,’ Leiter said after the meeting. 

He added that the discussion focused on a ‘clearly delineated border’ between Israel and Lebanon.

‘The security of our civilians is not up for negotiation. This was a victory for sanity, for responsibility and for peace,’ Leiter said.

Leiter also declared that both nations were ‘united in liberating Lebanon’ from Hezbollah.  

Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, called the meeting ‘productive’ while Rubio noted that the talks are a ‘process.’ 

Rubio added: ‘It’s a historic gathering that we hope to build on.’

Instability between Lebanon and Israel has contributed to the enduring conflict in the region. 

Lebanon and Israel have engaged in peace negotiations in 1983 and 1993. However, following the Hamas-led attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, the conflict drastically escalated.

A fragile cease-fire was implemented at the end of 2024, but was never fully enforced.