Israel and Lebanon Reach Agreement on 10-Day Ceasefire After U.S.-Facilitated Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire. The ceasefire follows direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese military chiefs in Washington, the first such contact in 34 years. U.S. Secretary of State, along with the Vice President and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conducted the discussions.

Lebanese and Israeli leaders were involved through conversations with Trump. The Lebanese Prime Minister welcomed the truce, which Lebanon and Israel agreed would begin within hours. The Lebanese President expressed hope that the negotiations would mark the beginning of the end of suffering for the Lebanese people and thanked Trump for his efforts during a phone call on Thursday.

There was a U.S. request for a direct call between the Lebanese President and the Israeli Prime Minister. Israeli officials expressed outrage that Trump announced the ceasefire before Israel’s Security Cabinet had voted on the matter. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon during the period.

The ceasefire comes amid ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel since October 7. Hezbollah stated that the Israeli invasion gives Lebanon the right to resist, while a Hezbollah MP warned that Lebanon could become increasingly divided over the government’s decision to agree to the truce.

In related developments, Israeli forces destroyed the last operational bridge over Lebanon’s Litani River.

The U.S. and Iran are engaged in indirect talks to extend a separate two-week ceasefire. President Trump posted on Truth Social that he had excellent conversations with both the Lebanese President and the Israeli Prime Minister, stating that the ceasefire was part of his effort to achieve peace and would mark his tenth success in ending wars.

“The two leaders agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5 P.M. EST to achieve peace.”