US President Donald Trump claims ten day stop in missile exchanges agreed between Israel and Lebanon – even though it was without mention of Hezbollah, which was actually fighting Israel
US President Donald Trump has claimed a ten day ceasefire has been struck between Israel and Lebanon. Trump wrote on social media: “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel.
‘These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day ceasefire at 5 P.M ET .” The two countries had their first meeting in 34 years in Washington DC, along with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.’ It means the ceasefire starts at 10pm London time.
It is not believed there has been confirmation of a ceasefire from Israel, Lebanon or Hezbollah, the latter being the party that is at war with Israel. Trump’s claims come as the US is working on setting up a second round of talks with Iran to end the war in the Middle East.
Pakistan’s army chief met with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions in the Middle East and arrange a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran. It follows almost seven weeks of war in Iran which has hit much of the region and a deepening crisis in the Strait of Hormuz as the US tightened its naval blockade.
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As many as 20 ships have now been turned back to Iranian ports by the fleet and it is believed only Chinese vessels have slipped through the Iranian blockage of the waterway. The White House said any further talks with Iran would likely take place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.
More than 10,000 American troops are helping enforce the blockade on Iranian ports although no ships have yet needed to be boarded. Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis rebel group, said that in negotiations with Iran, the U.S. is making “impossible demands for any independent country to accept.”
He said the ongoing two-week ceasefire was a result of “failures” by the U.S. and Israel to achieve their goals in the Iran war. The current cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran started on April 8 and ends on April 22.
Al-Houthi said: “If negotiations succeed, it will either result in a longer period of stability or an end to the aggression.” More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million displaced by the fighting.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says that among the killed are 260 women and 172 children since the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began March 2. Another 7,185 have been wounded.
Israel’s latest military escalation started after Hezbollah fired rockets towards northern Israel in solidarity with its key ally and patron Iran. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon that Iran “ultimately needs to come to the table and make a deal.”
“We’d prefer to do it the nice way through a deal led by our great vice president and negotiating team. Or we can do it the hard way.” Iran has repeatedly insisted that it doesn’t seek a nuclear weapon and that its program is for peaceful purposes. And a deal that is being discussed is for a ten to 15 year delay to Iran having nuclear capability – very similar to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action struck by President Obama – the JCPOA – which Trump tore up.
