U.S. President Declares 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. This decision came after discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who agreed to the pause to work toward peace. Trump is inviting both leaders to the White House for talks, marking the first significant meetings between the two countries since 1983.

The ceasefire began when Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors met in Washington for their first direct talks in decades. Netanyahu confirmed agreement to the temporary truce but stated that Israeli forces will stay in southern Lebanon, claiming it’s needed for security. Trump has asked his team, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to help achieve a lasting peace.

Lebanon is seeking Israel’s withdrawal, release of Lebanese prisoners, and return of displaced civilians as part of any agreement. However, Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group central to the conflict, was excluded from the talks and rejects them entirely. Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will not leave southern Lebanon or allow Hezbollah to remain armed, which are key demands for Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s leader called the talks a trick to disarm the group. Meanwhile, Lebanon wants peace before broader negotiations and remains committed to disarming Hezbollah. The war started in March after Hezbollah attacked Israel following the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei. Over 2,100 people have died, and over a million have been displaced.