Trump announces 10-day Israel–Lebanon ceasefire after calls with leaders
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire following separate conversations with their leaders, in a potential step toward easing regional tensions.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that both had agreed to halt hostilities starting 5 pm EST on Thursday, April 16.
“These two leaders have agreed that in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote.
Trump says US is pushing for broader peace effort
Trump said he had directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to coordinate with Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine to help translate the temporary truce into a lasting peace arrangement.
In a follow-up tweet, Trump said, "In addition to the statement just issued, I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago. Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!"
According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, Aoun thanked Trump for his efforts to secure a ceasefire and stabilize the region, with Trump reaffirming his commitment to supporting Lebanon’s request for an immediate halt to fighting.
Confusion prevails over direct talks
Despite Trump’s claims, there was no immediate confirmation from Israeli officials regarding the agreement.
Trump had earlier suggested that Aoun and Netanyahu would hold a rare direct conversation, the first between leaders of the two countries in decades, but Lebanese authorities did not confirm such a call.
Media reports in Lebanon indicated that Aoun had conveyed to Rubio his reluctance to speak directly with Netanyahu, raising uncertainty over the extent of coordination between the two sides.
Conflict continues to take heavy toll
The announcement comes amid a prolonged Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, now stretching beyond six weeks.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 2,000 people have been killed, while over a million residents have been displaced by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in the country’s south.
Israel has maintained that its operations target the reportedly Iran-backed radical group, even as the humanitarian toll continues to mount.
