Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel And Lebanon
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon “in order to achieve PEACE between their countries.”
“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,” Trump said in a social media publication.
“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.
The development follows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s refusal to talk to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu while the country continued sustaining attacks.
Citing a Lebanese official, the Associated Press said Aoun told Secretary of State Marco Rubio that direct talks would not be appropriate given Israel’s ongoing attacks in the country. The official claimed that Rubio was understanding of the position.
Aoun’s office later said Trump held a conversation with him where he stressed “his commitment to fulfilling the Lebanese request for a ceasefire as soon as possible.”
If talks effectively take place now, they will be the first in more than 30 years. It will follow
a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials in the U.S. on Tuesday, where both parties agreed on the need to “liberate” the latter country from Hezbollah.
Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, told press that negotiators “discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation, and that’s the most positive thing we could have come away with.”
“The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah,” Leiter added.
Hezbollah not only called on Lebanese officials to not attend the meeting, but a top official also said the group won’t observe any agreement reached between the countries.
Concretely, Al Arabiya noted that the remarks were made by Wafik Saha. They follow those of the group’s top leader, Naim Qassem, who said the entity “absolutely rejects” the talks.
