Trump Secures 10-Day Truce Between Israel and Lebanon

In a significant development on the international stage, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, set to last ten days. This truce, as Trump described, is a crucial first move towards achieving a lasting peace between the two nations.

Trump extended an invitation to both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Lebanese President to engage in further discussions at the White House, aiming to build on this initial progress.

The announcement was made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, coming on the heels of high-level talks that took place in Washington earlier this week. The ceasefire is slated to commence today at 5 p.m. EST.

This agreement marks a milestone, achieved after direct conversations with leaders from both countries. Notably, it also signifies the first diplomatic meeting in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in over three decades, which occurred this past Tuesday.

‘I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel,’ Trump shared. ‘These two leaders have agreed to initiate a ten-day ceasefire at 5 p.m. EST to pave the way for peace between their countries.’

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.

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

Despite negotiations, airstrikes have continued in the region. Above, the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Wednesday 

It wasn’t clear whether Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attend future talks

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. 

Trump stated that the agreement was reached following personal conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Pictured: Aoun shaking hands with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani

Rubio, center, in between Michael Needham and Ambassador Michel Issa, called the talks ‘historic’ and ‘productive’ 

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter declared that both nations were ‘united in liberating Lebanon’ from Hezbollah 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.