US Announces Lebanon Ceasefire Amid Iran Talks and Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire was agreed upon at Trump's request, but the job of addressing rocket and drone threats is not finished. Israel's defense minister Israel Katz stated that the goal of disarming Hezbollah remains, achievable by military or diplomatic means.

A Channel 12 poll found nearly 80% of Israelis wanted continued strikes on Hezbollah. In Lebanon, residents returned to ruined homes in the south, with almost 2,200 people killed in the past month. Hezbollah called on the Lebanese government not to engage in direct talks with Israel, while appointing Iran as its steward in broader talks.

Iran's foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire. Trump described the war with Iran as going swimmingly and predicted it should end soon. He prohibited Israel from bombing Lebanon further. The ceasefire was first learned by Israel's security cabinet via Trump's social media post, and by Hezbollah via Iran's ambassador to Lebanon.

The agreement seeks lasting peace, with the Lebanese government holding a monopoly on force and a formal border demarcation. Negotiations must address Hezbollah's arms and Israeli withdrawal. Both sides exchanged heavy fire before the truce took effect.

Europe's gas futures prices retreated to their lowest since the US and Israel attacked Iran, which had closed the Strait of Hormuz and halted gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The truce in Lebanon and Hormuz reopening raised hopes for clearing obstacles to a US-Iran peace deal.

Trump stated the Lebanon deal is separate but pledged to make Lebanon great again. Netanyahu said Israel has not finished dismantling Hezbollah. Sustained international focus is needed for the talks to succeed, as fighting could resume without it.

“The ground manuever into Lebanon and the attack on Hezbollah throughout Lebanon have achieved many achievements but are still not complete; the goal we defined: disarming Hezbollah by military or diplomatic means, was and remains the goal of the campaign to which we are committed.”