US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern time, marking a potential breakthrough in the conflict that has escalated alongside the broader US-Iran war.
The announcement came after what Trump described as phone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The ceasefire represents the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries' leaders in over three decades.
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
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
Trump's statement notably omitted any mention of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group that has been fighting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. A senior Hezbollah lawmaker said the group had been briefed on the potential ceasefire by Iran's ambassador to Beirut, but indicated compliance would depend on Israel halting all hostilities.
The ceasefire announcement comes amid intensified fighting in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have destroyed the last remaining bridge over the Litani River, effectively severing the country's south from the rest of Lebanon. More than 2,100 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the conflict began, according to Lebanese authorities.
Al Jazeera frames the announcement factually while emphasizing the absence of Hezbollah from the negotiations, highlighting the group's conditional stance on compliance. The outlet's perspective reflects Qatar's role as a regional mediator, presenting the development as potentially significant but noting the implementation challenges given the exclusion of key militant actors.
Daily Sabah presents Trump's announcement positively, emphasizing his self-proclaimed role as a peacemaker and highlighting the US diplomatic machinery mobilized for the effort. The Turkish outlet's framing reflects Ankara's interest in regional stability and its alignment with US-led diplomatic initiatives, while downplaying potential obstacles to implementation.
Spiegel approaches the announcement with characteristic German skepticism about Middle East peace initiatives, emphasizing the lack of confirmation from Israeli and Lebanese sources and noting Hezbollah's rejection of direct talks. The outlet's framing reflects European wariness of premature optimism in regional conflicts and preference for verified diplomatic progress over announcements.
ABC News frames the ceasefire as a potentially positive development while emphasizing the exclusion of Hezbollah and implementation uncertainties. The Australian perspective reflects Canberra's support for diplomatic solutions while maintaining realistic expectations about Middle East peace processes, particularly given the country's experience with regional conflicts.
The Times of India frames the ceasefire within a broader regional power struggle, emphasizing Pakistan's diplomatic mediation efforts and the US military's readiness to resume hostilities if Iran rejects peace terms. This perspective reflects India's strategic interest in regional stability while maintaining equidistance from both US-Israeli and Iranian positions, given India's complex relationships with all parties including its energy dependence on Iran and defense partnerships with Israel.
PBS presents the ceasefire as a straightforward diplomatic development without emphasizing the broader Iran-Saudi regional rivalry or sectarian dimensions of the conflict. This measured framing aligns with Saudi Arabia's current diplomatic approach of cautious engagement with regional de-escalation efforts while avoiding direct confrontation with Iran, reflecting the kingdom's shift toward pragmatic foreign policy under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump said he would invite both Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for what he called the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983. He has tasked Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine with working toward a lasting peace agreement.
The Lebanon ceasefire announcement occurs as Pakistan's army chief visits Tehran to push for renewed US-Iran negotiations. The broader conflict began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, triggering a regional war that has disrupted global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli officials indicated the military has no plans to withdraw forces from southern Lebanon during the ceasefire period. Netanyahu's security cabinet convened for urgent discussions on the agreement Thursday afternoon, according to government sources.
The temporary truce follows rare direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington earlier this week - their first such contact in decades. However, Lebanese officials had previously rejected the possibility of direct communication between Aoun and Netanyahu without a ceasefire in place.
It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th
Donald Trump, US President — Truth Social
The announcement raises questions about implementation and enforcement, particularly given Hezbollah's significant military presence in southern Lebanon and its stated opposition to direct Lebanese-Israeli dialogue. Iran's role in any ceasefire arrangement remains unclear as Pakistani mediators work to revive broader US-Iran peace talks before the current two-week truce expires on April 22.