President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire following talks between their officials in Washington, marking the first direct contact between the two nations’ leaders in 34 years.
The temporary truce will start at 5 p.m. Eastern Time and is intended to create space for negotiations toward a lasting peace agreement, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Trump stated he had just completed “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who he said had spoken directly for the first time in over three decades as part of the diplomatic push.
The ceasefire aims to halt ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah groups in Lebanon, with Trump emphasizing that ending bloodshed and protecting civilian lives remains his administration’s top priority in the region.
Trump frames ceasefire as step toward broader diplomatic breakthrough
The U.S. President said the pause in fighting will allow for substantive discussions between Israeli and Lebanese officials to pursue a permanent peace agreement, noting that both sides expressed desire for a swift resolution to the conflict.
Trump added that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will oversee the peace process, working with both nations to achieve what he described as a “Lasting PEACE” between Israel and Lebanon.
For more on this story, see US-Iran Diplomacy: Push for Deal and Ceasefire Extension Gains Momentum.
Historic nature of direct talks underscored by 34-year gap
Highlighting the significance of the engagement, Trump pointed out that it has been 34 years since Israeli and Lebanese leaders last held direct talks, calling the upcoming White House meeting a historic milestone in bilateral relations.
Ceasefire tied to wider U.S.-Iran strategic pressure
Trump linked the Israel-Lebanon de-escalation to broader U.S. Strategy toward Iran, stating that American military actions targeting Iranian ports are restricting oil exports and critical imports, which he said is weakening Iran’s economy and could compel Tehran to accept a ceasefire.
Trump claims personal diplomatic milestone in conflict resolution
How long will the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon last?
The ceasefire is set to last for 10 days, beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, as announced by President Donald Trump.
Who will monitor the peace process following the ceasefire announcement?
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been tasked by Trump to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a lasting peace agreement.