Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, effective Thursday at 5 p.m. Washington time. The announcement followed direct diplomatic negotiations hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, marking the first such talks between the two nations since 1983. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the agreement, he stated that Israeli troops would not withdraw from southern Lebanon during the truce, a condition demanded by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has not yet clarified its stance on adhering to the ceasefire. This development occurs amidst broader U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict launched in late February. Trump expressed optimism that Hezbollah would abide by the truce and indicated that the United States is close to securing a lasting peace deal with Iran. The ceasefire represents a significant diplomatic effort to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, although the refusal of Israeli forces to withdraw remains a potential obstacle to long-term stability. Celebrations involving fireworks and tracer rounds were reported in Beirut following the announcement.
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Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, effective Thursday at 5 p.m. Washington time. The announcement followed direct diplomatic negotiations hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, marking the first such talks between the two nations since 1983. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the agreement, he stated that Israeli troops would not withdraw from southern Lebanon during the truce, a condition demanded by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has not yet clarified its stance on adhering to the ceasefire. This development occurs amidst broader U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict launched in late February. Trump expressed optimism that Hezbollah would abide by the truce and indicated that the United States is close to securing a lasting peace deal with Iran. The ceasefire represents a significant diplomatic effort to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, although the refusal of Israeli forces to withdraw remains a potential obstacle to long-term stability. Celebrations involving fireworks and tracer rounds were reported in Beirut following the announcement.
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