Washington DC: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning in less than six hours.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the ceasefire will begin at 5 pm EST (3.30 am IST Friday), as a first step towards a long-term peace process between the two sides.
“It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s GET IT DONE!” Trump wrote.
The US President said that representatives from Israel and Lebanon met earlier this week in Washington, their first such meeting in 34 years. The talks were held alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“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 PM EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, DC, with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,” Trump wrote.
“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,” he added.
In a separate statement, Trump said he will invite Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for what he described as the first meaningful talks between the two countries since 1983.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire with Israel.
“I welcome the announcement of the ceasefire declared by President Trump, which is a central Lebanese demand we have pursued since the first day of the war, and was our primary goal in the Washington meeting on Tuesday. 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 said.
Two days after US-Israel strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, Iran-backed Hezbollah launched attacks in support of Tehran. That triggered an Israeli retaliation and a strong military response in Lebanon.
