Trump Secures 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

Washington / Beirut: On Thursday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that leaders from Israel and Lebanon have come together to establish a 10-day ceasefire, a crucial move towards diminishing regional tensions.

This ceasefire is set to kick off at 5 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). While Trump's announcement on Truth Social didn't specify an effective date, upcoming confirmations indicated that it will commence the same day.

The announcement comes after a series of strategic diplomatic discussions. Trump noted that his discussions with Benjamin Netanyahu and Joseph Aoun were “very productive”, resulting in their agreement to pause hostilities and foster a path towards peace.

To facilitate this ceasefire, Trump has appointed senior officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine to collaborate closely with both nations.

Meanwhile, Hassan Fadlallah, a senior Hezbollah official, indicated that the group was told through Iran’s ambassador about the possible one-week truce starting Thursday evening. He highlighted that Hezbollah’s commitment relies heavily on Israel's cessation of aggression.

Violence escalated beginning March 2, when Hezbollah initiated attacks aligned with Iran, inciting a fierce Israeli military response. In the aftermath, Lebanese sources report over 2,100 individuals killed and more than 1.2 million displaced.

On the Israeli front, officials state that Hezbollah's actions have led to the deaths of two civilians and 13 soldiers.

Despite this ceasefire announcement, an Israeli security official confirmed there are no intentions to reduce troop presence in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire.

Additionally, Trump has revealed plans to host Netanyahu and Aoun at the White House for ongoing discussions focused on achieving lasting peace, notably against the backdrop of a formal state of war existing between Israel and Lebanon since 1948.

This ceasefire presents a pivotal chance to alleviate conflicts and enhance diplomatic outreach in the troubled region.