US President Trump Announces Temporary Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

US President Donald Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is set to take effect on Thursday at 5pm EST, according to a statement released by US President Donald Trump. The agreement was reached after discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The ceasefire will be formally announced at 21:00 GMT on Thursday, as stated by Trump in a social media post. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has welcomed the announcement, describing it as “a central Lebanese demand we have pursued since the first day of the war”.

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon began on March 2, when Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned armed group, fired rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The situation escalated into a broader US-Israel war on Iran, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement.

According to reports, more than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon, with thousands wounded, as well as forced evacuation orders covering roughly 15 percent of Lebanese territory. The Lebanese health ministry has reported nine deaths across the Tyre district in southern Lebanon over the past two days.

Trump has announced plans to invite Netanyahu and Aoun to direct talks, stating that both sides want to resolve their differences. He also directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, to work towards a lasting settlement.

A separate US-Iran ceasefire is set to expire next week, with fresh negotiations expected in Pakistan. Iran had made securing a Lebanon ceasefire a firm demand ahead of any potential talks.

Source: Al Jazeera