U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a temporary ceasefire aimed at halting weeks of intensified fighting involving the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
According to the announcement, the ceasefire is expected to begin later Thursday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time and will initially run for 10 days, marking a significant but fragile pause in hostilities between the two sides.
The development comes after a period of escalating violence in which Israeli forces conducted sustained strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, following months of cross-border attacks and regional instability linked to the broader Israel–Iran conflict.
Trump disclosed that the agreement followed separate “excellent conversations” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, describing the deal as an important step toward wider regional peace efforts.
“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,” Trump stated in his announcement on social media.
The ceasefire arrangement was reportedly facilitated through U.S. diplomatic channels, with senior American officials working alongside representatives from both countries to secure the temporary halt in fighting. The move also comes amid broader U.S. efforts to stabilize multiple fronts in the Middle East and reduce tensions involving Iran and its regional allies.
While the agreement covers Israel and Lebanon, uncertainty remains over the role of Hezbollah, the powerful armed group operating in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah was not directly part of the negotiations, raising questions about how strictly the ceasefire will be observed on the ground.
In Lebanon, the government welcomed the announcement as an opportunity to ease civilian suffering and allow humanitarian access to affected areas. However, officials have also stressed the importance of ensuring that any truce leads to a more durable political and security arrangement.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, have not fully detailed how military operations will be adjusted during the ceasefire, although earlier statements indicate that Israel continues to reserve the right to respond to perceived threats from Hezbollah even during temporary pauses in fighting.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified in recent weeks, with Israeli airstrikes targeting southern and eastern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched rocket attacks into northern Israel in solidarity with its ally Iran. The fighting has resulted in significant casualties and widespread displacement on both sides of the border.
The United States has been attempting to broker parallel diplomatic efforts across the region, including separate talks involving Iran, in an effort to reduce the risk of a broader regional war. The Israel–Lebanon ceasefire is seen as part of this wider strategy to de-escalate multiple interconnected conflicts.
Analysts caution, however, that the temporary nature of the agreement and the absence of Hezbollah’s direct participation make the truce fragile. Past ceasefires in the region have frequently collapsed due to renewed attacks or disagreements over enforcement mechanisms.
Despite these concerns, the announcement has raised cautious optimism that the pause in fighting could open a window for further negotiations, including discussions on border security, the presence of armed groups in southern Lebanon, and long-term stability arrangements.
As the ceasefire is set to take effect, international observers will be closely watching whether both sides comply with the terms and whether the pause can be extended into a more lasting diplomatic breakthrough in one of the Middle East’s most volatile conflicts.
