US President Announces Ceasefire Between Lebanon and Israel
US President Donald Trump announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, effective from 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT; midnight local time) on 16 April.
Trump's statement did not mention Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon involved in exchanges of fire with Israel over the past six weeks. However, in a subsequent post on Truth Social, Trump urged Hezbollah to comply with the ceasefire, stating:
"I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time."
Following the announcement, President Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for further discussions.
What Does the Agreement Entail?
The ceasefire agreement specifies a duration of 10 days, with the option to extend the truce by mutual consent if negotiations progress positively.
Additional details from the US State Department indicate that the truce represents a "gesture of goodwill" by Israel aimed at facilitating "good-faith negotiations towards a permanent security and peace agreement" between the two nations.
Reactions from Involved Parties
Leaders from both Israel and Lebanon have welcomed the ceasefire. Prime Minister Netanyahu described it as an "opportunity to make a historic peace agreement." Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed hope that the agreement would enable displaced individuals to return to their homes.
Hezbollah has indicated willingness to participate in the ceasefire, stipulating that it must include "a comprehensive halt to attacks" throughout Lebanon and "no freedom of movement for Israeli forces." It is important to note that while Hezbollah is deeply integrated within Lebanon, it is not part of the official Lebanese government security apparatus.
Iran's foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire, with spokesperson Esmail Baghaei expressing "solidarity" with Lebanon. Tehran had previously insisted that its own two-week ceasefire with the US should encompass Lebanon, a position not supported by the US and Israel.
UN Secretary General António Guterres praised the US role in facilitating the ceasefire and called on all parties to "fully respect" and "comply with international law at all times."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the deal as a "relief," affirming Europe's commitment to "call for the full respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity." EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that the ceasefire must be used to "step back from the violence" and create opportunities for talks aimed at "a more lasting peace."
Israel's Security Buffer Zone
Despite the ceasefire, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would maintain a 10km-deep (6.2 mile) "security zone" in southern Lebanon, declaring:
"We are there, and we are not leaving."
He added that the buffer zone is necessary to "block the danger of invasion." Israel re-entered southern Lebanon following Hezbollah strikes in early March, establishing this zone to protect communities in northern Israel.
A prior ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended 13 months of conflict, still experienced near-daily cross-border attacks.
Negotiation Process
Israel and Lebanon engaged in rare direct talks in Washington earlier in the week, aiming to de-escalate the conflict that has included deadly air strikes in Beirut and fighting in southern Lebanon.
President Trump's announcement referenced "excellent conversations" with Presidents Aoun and Netanyahu but did not clarify whether Hezbollah was directly involved in negotiations. Subsequently, Trump urged Hezbollah to "act nicely and well during this important period of time" via social media.
While welcoming the truce, Netanyahu clarified that he was making minimal concessions on the ground. He noted that Hezbollah demanded two conditions: the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and a principle of "quiet for quiet."
Reports suggest the ceasefire announcement surprised Israeli officials, including members of the government's security cabinet. An Israeli news outlet reported that Netanyahu convened a security cabinet meeting with only five minutes' notice shortly before the ceasefire was announced, with ministers reportedly not given a vote on the agreement.
Connection to the Iran Conflict
The ceasefire with Iran involved mixed messages regarding Lebanon's participation. Pakistani officials involved in negotiations and Iranian representatives stated Lebanon was included, whereas Israel denied this. US President Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed Lebanon was not part of the deal.
Israel launched strikes on Lebanon on 2 March in response to Hezbollah attacks. This followed US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran against US allies in the Gulf and from Iran's proxies, including Hezbollah.
Despite calls from Lebanon's Prime Minister for cessation of hostilities, Israel and Hezbollah have continued exchanges of fire.
According to Lebanon's health ministry, over 2,100 people have been killed and 7,000 wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 2 March. These figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and include at least 260 women and 172 children. The ministry reports that 91 health professionals have been killed and 208 wounded, with over 120 Israeli attacks targeting ambulances and medical facilities. BBC Verify analysis found that more than 1,400 buildings in Lebanon have been destroyed.
Hezbollah attacks have resulted in the deaths of two civilians in Israel during the same period, while Israeli authorities report 13 Israeli soldiers killed in combat in Lebanon.
On Thursday, the Israeli military destroyed the last bridge connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, further isolating the region and raising concerns among many Lebanese about the potential for long-term occupation of certain areas.
