US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (April 16th) that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, calling the move a step towards achieving long-term peace between the two countries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had spoken with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that both leaders had agreed to begin a temporary ceasefire.
“These two leaders have agreed to formally begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5:00 PM EST in order to achieve PEACE between their countries,” Trump wrote.
Negotiations in Washington after decades
Trump said the development followed a rare meeting between representatives of the two countries in Washington, DC – their first such encounter in 34 years.
“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,” he said.
American officials charged with mediation
Trump added that senior US officials had been directed to facilitate further negotiations aimed at securing a lasting peace deal.
“I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE,” he said.
‘This will be my tenth’: Trump
As part of his broader diplomatic claims, Trump said he has played a role in resolving many global conflicts.
“I’ve had the honor of solving 9 wars around the world and this will be my 10th so let’s GET IT FINISHED!” he wrote
Trump invites the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House
Trump said he plans to host the leaders of Israel and Lebanon at the White House for what he described as the first meaningful talks between the two countries in decades.
“I will invite Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, which is a very long time ago,” Trump said.
“Both sides want to see PEACE and I believe it will happen quickly!” he added.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomes the development
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the latest developments in the country while expressing his condolences to the families affected by the recent conflict.
In a statement, Salam described the moment as a success for Lebanon, but acknowledged the high human cost.
“While I congratulate all Lebanese for this achievement, I offer my condolences to the families of the martyrs who fell,” he said.
Salam expressed support for those affected by the violence, including the injured and displaced.
“I confirm my solidarity with their families, with the injured and with the citizens who were forced to flee their towns and villages,” he added.
The Lebanese front remains unstable
Even as diplomacy continues, fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group has intensified in Lebanon. Israeli forces have stepped up operations in southern Lebanon, targeting areas such as Tyre, Nabatieh and Bint Jbeil.
Israel has framed ongoing talks as part of a broader effort to disarm Hezbollah, while Lebanese authorities remain divided over engagement with Israel. Israeli troops have also advanced deeper into southern Lebanon to create a “security zone”.
Pakistan strengthens mediation
Efforts to extend a fragile truce in Iran’s conflict gained momentum on Thursday when Asim Munir met with Iranian parliamentary leader Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in Tehran amid intensifying diplomatic activity.
The meeting comes as international mediators race to extend a two-week ceasefire that has halted nearly seven weeks of war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Read also | Trump says he is permanently reopening the Strait of Hormuz to China only
US-Iran truce under pressure
The conflict has killed thousands of people and disrupted global markets, particularly due to shocks in oil supplies linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. While oil prices have recently fallen on hopes of de-escalation, the economic impact remains significant.
The White House has indicated that further talks could take place in Islamabad, although no final decision has been made. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator after hosting earlier US-Iran talks that reportedly narrowed differences.
Despite maintaining the ceasefire, tensions remain, with the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian threats to disrupt regional shipping routes, including through the Red Sea.
Progress has been reported, but tensions are simmering
Officials familiar with the talks said the US and Iran had reached an “agreement in principle” to extend the ceasefire, although key differences remain unresolved. These include Iran’s nuclear program, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for war damages.
Iran has indicated a willingness to discuss limits on uranium enrichment, but insists it must retain the right to continue the program for civilian purposes.
At the same time, senior Iranian military officials have warned of escalating consequences if the US does not ease the blockade, including threats to halt regional trade.
Big tolls
The war, which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, has since spread across the region. More than 3,000 people were killed in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, and dozens in Israel and the Gulf states, along with US military casualties.
Read also | Pentagon Escalates Iran Standoff, Warns ‘This Blockade Covers All Ships’
