US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, making both the belligerent sides stop all military actions. This comes after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun spoke to American counterpart Trump on a call and thanked MAGA supremo for his efforts to push for long-term stability, while urging swift action.Trump, in response, reiterated US support for Lebanon and committed to working towards a ceasefire at the earliest.In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared that the ceasefire talks were carried out in presence of the leaders of the two country along with US secretary of state Marco Rubio. He also invited the two leaders to the White House and said that US vice president JD Vance and Rubio along with joint chiefs of staff chairman, Dan Razin’ Caine, shall work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve “a lasting peace.”
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He wrote, “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. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. 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. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE!”The presidency of Lebanon also shared about Aoun’s call with Trump as they wrote, “In a phone call this afternoon between the American President Donald Trump and the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, President Aoun renewed his thanks during it for the efforts that Trump is exerting in order to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon and to secure peace and stability on a permanent basis, paving the way for achieving the peace process in the region, and he wished upon him the continuation of these efforts to stop the fire in the shortest possible time, and Trump responded with his support for President Aoun and Lebanon and his emphasis on his commitment to meeting the Lebanese request for a ceasefire in the shortest time.“Just hours before speaking with Trump, Aoun also held talks with Rubio, where he also expressed appreciation for Washington’s role in attempting to halt the conflict. Rubio affirmed continued US efforts, describing them as a step towards “establishing peace, security, and stability in Lebanon” and reiterating support for Aoun’s position.The Lebanese presidency shared the interaction on X wrote, “President General Joseph Aoun received a telephone call from the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which he thanked him for the efforts Washington is making to achieve a ceasefire and its support at all levels. For his part, Rubio affirmed his continuation of the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire as a prelude to establishing peace, security, and stability in Lebanon, confirming his support and appreciation for President Aoun’s positions.“During the phone call with Rubio, Aoun also expressed Lebanon’s stance, where he refused to speak directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, Rubio said that Washington “understands Lebanon’s position,” news agency The Associated Press reported, citing an official familiar with the matter.Earlier, Trump had said that Israeli and Lebanese leaders were expected to speak about halting the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, raising the prospect of the first direct contact between the two sides in over 30 years. However, both Lebanese and Israeli officials stopped short of confirming any such exchange, and Aoun’s office made no mention of talks with Netanyahu.Despite diplomatic efforts, hostilities continued on the ground. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones towards northern Israel, while Israeli forces intensified strikes in southern Lebanon, including in Tyre, Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil.Lebanon has maintained that any ceasefire must be preceded by an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Aoun called this an “essential step” to enable the Lebanese army to deploy along the border and disarm Hezbollah. Israel, meanwhile, has indicated plans to establish a “security zone” extending several kilometres into Lebanese territory.