US President Donald Trump has announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The 10-day ceasefire will come into effect from 10pm UK time on Thursday (April 16).
The agreement was reached between Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said in a post on X that vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio will work with the two nations to achieve “lasting peace”.
He said: “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. EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
“I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
In a separate post, Trump shared that he has invited both Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for “meaningful talks”. He added: “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!”
Over 2,000 people have been killed since Israel launched military operations in Lebanon on March 2. Israel said the operarions are aimed at disarming and dismantling the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah.
It has been confirmed that Hezbollah was told by Iran’s ambassador in Lebanon that the ceasefire would begin on Thursday night. Hassan Fadlallah, a senior Hezbollah official, claims the ceasefire is the result of Iranian diplomacy and urges Israel to stop hostilities.
Nawaf Salam, the Lebanese Prime Minister, has also welcomed the temporary ceasefire and hopes those displaced by the war can return to their homes. Meanwhile, an Israeli security official has confirmed the nation’s military has no plans to withdraw from southern Lebanon during the ceasefire.
It comes after dozens more people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon on Thursday, with a further 124 people injured in attacks. Netanyahu said on Wednesday (April 15) that Israel would continue to strike Hezbollah, claiming the group is fighting in Lebanon and remains embedded in the nation’s civilian population.
