Trump says Israel, Lebanon agreed to 10-day ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire starting later Thursday, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday. The truce is scheduled to begin at 5 pm EST.

The president announced the pause in fighting on Truth Social, saying it followed "excellent" conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Also read: US ready to resume strikes if Iran rejects peace deal, warns Hegseth


Lebanon and Israel held their first direct peace talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington after more than a month of war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.

Trump said he has directed Vice President JD Vance others to work with Israel and Lebanon to "achieve a Lasting PEACE".

Netanyahu said he has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon. In a video statement, he said that the government was taking the step in an attempt “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.

He clarified that Israel has not agreed to Hezbollah demand to withdraw from Southern Lebanon back to international border. "We will remain in Lebanon with an extensive security zone up to the Syrian border.

The Hezbollah militant group, which has been fighting Israel for six weeks, has said it opposes the dialogue.

“We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.

"President Trump told me he is determined to continue blockade of Hormuz Strait and dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities," he added.

Trump also invited Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for the "first meaningful talks" between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago. "Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!" Trump said.

Speaking to reporters later on Thursday, Trump said, ""It's very exciting because it's 48 years. We're going to be meeting with Bibi Netanyahu, and the president of Lebanon... they're going to be having a ceasefire, and that will include Hezbollah."

With the Iseael-Lebanon ceasefire, Trump claims to have settled "nine wars" across the world and the latest one would mark his tenth such achievement.

The truce announcement comes at a time when Washington and Tehran have held peace talks in Islamabad, which failed to end the nearly seven week-long conflict in the Middle East.