Trump Announces 10-Day Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire After ‘Excellent Talks’ With Leaders

In a major diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. The announcement came after what he described as "excellent conversations" with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The move is being seen as an important step toward reducing tensions in the region and possibly opening the door for long-term peace.

Ceasefire to Begin at 5 PM EST

According to Trump, the ceasefire will officially begin at 5 PM EST (3:30 AM IST). He shared the update on his social media platform, saying both countries have agreed to stop hostilities for a limited period to create space for peace talks.

Trump expressed optimism about the agreement, stating that both sides are willing to move toward peace and stability after a period of conflict.

First Talks in Decades Signal Breakthrough

One of the most significant aspects of this development is that Israel and Lebanon recently held direct talks for the first time in 34 years. These discussions took place in Washington, DC, marking a rare diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

The talks followed weeks of tension involving Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which has been active in Lebanon. The meeting is being seen as a breakthrough moment after decades of limited direct communication.

US Officials to Lead Peace Efforts

President Trump said that key US officials have been tasked with continuing the peace process. He has directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine to work closely with both countries.

Their role will be to ensure that the ceasefire holds and to help move discussions forward toward a more permanent solution.

Trump Calls It a Major Peace Initiative

Trump described the ceasefire as part of a broader diplomatic effort, calling it his "10th" such peace initiative. He expressed confidence that this process could lead to a lasting resolution between the two countries.

His remarks highlighted the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between Israel and Lebanon, especially after years of conflict and mistrust.

Invitation for Historic White House Talks

In another significant step, Trump announced that he has invited both Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House. If the meeting takes place, it would mark the first high-level talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983.

Trump said that both leaders have shown interest in achieving peace and that he believes progress could happen quickly.

A Look Back: The 1983 Agreement

The last major agreement between Israel and Lebanon was signed in 1983. At that time, Lebanon agreed to recognise Israel, and Israel agreed to withdraw its forces. However, the deal did not last long and collapsed during Lebanon's civil war, eventually being cancelled.
Since then, relations between the two countries have remained tense, with limited direct engagement.