President Trump said Thursday that leaders in Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, a major development that could accelerate peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Mr. Trump, writing on social media, said the pause in fighting would begin at 5 p.m.
The president said the countries agreed to the ceasefire after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Mr. Trump said he will invite both leaders to the White House for a face-to-face meeting.
“Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” Mr. Trump wrote.
Israel’s bombardment of Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon had been a sticking point in broader negotiations to end the U.S. military operation against Iran.
European allies and others said Israel went too far in its strikes, which have reportedly killed over 2,000 people – including medics and children.
Mr. Trump said he directed Vice President J.D. Vance and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, “to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the announcement while acknowledging those impacted by the fighting.
“As I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I pray for the martyrs who fell, and affirm my solidarity with their families, with the wounded, and with the citizens who were forced to flee their cities and villages, and I hold full hope that they will be able to return to them as soon as possible,” he wrote on X.
Mr. Trump’s announcement follows historic talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington on Tuesday. While the two sides did not secure a comprehensive agreement or a ceasefire at the time, they did agree to participate in further U.S.-brokered negotiations.
Israel and Lebanon do not maintain diplomatic relations and have not held direct talks since the Oslo Accords negotiations in 1993.
The two countries have also technically been at war since 1948.
Israel wants the total disarmament of Hezbollah and for Lebanon to dismantle “all terror infrastructure” within its borders.
Hezbollah leadership rejected negotiating with Israel and has insisted that its fighters will not abide by any agreements made between Israel and Lebanon’s government.
Iran, meanwhile, insisted that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire and that Israel had been violating the agreement by continuing its attacks on Hezbollah.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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