By Dennis Okechukwu
Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire set to begin on Thursday, although it remains unclear whether the Iran-backed group Hezbollah is part of the arrangement.
Trump said the agreement followed what he described as “excellent” discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The talks came shortly after both countries engaged in peace negotiations in Washington.
According to Trump, the ceasefire is scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. EST, marking a step toward de-escalating tensions between the two nations.
He added that key U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been tasked with working alongside both countries to secure a lasting peace.
Trump further expressed confidence in his role in global conflict resolution, stating that resolving the ongoing crisis would mark another milestone in his record.
The conflict intensified after clashes involving Israel and Iran, with Hezbollah launching rockets into Israel in support of Tehran. In response, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have resulted in over 2,000 deaths and displaced more than one million people, alongside a ground invasion in the southern region.
Trump also indicated that Netanyahu and Aoun were expected to hold further discussions, although there has been no confirmation that the talks have taken place.