In a sudden breakthrough for Middle East diplomacy, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire scheduled to take effect at 5 P.M. EST. The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social platform following a series of high-level discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump posted. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE.”
To manage the logistics of the truce, the President confirmed he has tasked Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to coordinate with General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their objective is to move beyond the temporary pause and assist both nations in securing a permanent peace agreement.
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A statement from President Aoun’s office confirmed the call, noting that the Lebanese leader “renewed his thanks for the efforts Trump is exerting to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon and secure lasting peace and stability.” The readout further mentioned that Trump expressed his “commitment to meeting the Lebanese request for a ceasefire at the earliest possible time.”
The lead-up to this announcement was marked by some diplomatic uncertainty. On Wednesday night, Trump posted that a direct phone call would occur between Aoun and Netanyahu, noting it would be the first time the leaders of the two nations had spoken in roughly 34 years.
While Trump celebrated the prospect with a “Nice!” on social media, Lebanese media outlets initially suggested Aoun might decline a direct conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister.
This diplomatic window opens during a period of intense conflict. For more than six weeks, Israel has conducted a military campaign targeting Hezbollah within Lebanese borders.
The Lebanese health ministry reports that more than 2,000 people have been killed during this period, while government figures in Beirut indicate that over 1 million people have been displaced as Israeli ground forces moved into southern Lebanon.
The 10-day window is intended to halt active hostilities and provide a framework for further negotiations involving the Trump administration and military leadership.
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