Israel and Lebanon have reached a ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday, after Israel’s continued bombing of its neighbor emerged as a major sticking point in the U.S.’s talks with Iran over the broader conflict.
“I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel,” Trump wrote. ”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’s announcement raises significant unanswered questions over the details of the agreement. Israel’s bombing campaign — which has rocked Beirut and other Lebanese cities — is part of its long-running conflict with the Hezbollah militant group and not the country’s military forces. The Lebanese government has little control over the group, so a ceasefire with the country’s official representation does not necessarily mean an end to the war.
Trump added that he is dispatching Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine to work with the two countries on continued negotiations.
The president said in a subsequent post that he was inviting Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for a summit. The embassies of Israel and Lebanon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Netanyahu, who has been strongly criticized by allies in Europe for continuing to strike Lebanon even after the U.S. and Iran reached their temporary ceasefire in early April, committed to peace talks with Beirut last week.
But a halt in fighting, even if temporary, could prove a crucial stepping stone for U.S. interlocutors. Iran, whose leadership insisted Lebanon had been included in the ceasefire deal it negotiated with the Americans, continued to strike at targets across the Middle East as Israel attacked Beirut.
“If the U S. wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on X last week. “We think that would be dumb but are prepared for it.”
Trump said Wednesday on Fox Business that peace with Iran could come “very soon” if “they’re smart.” His optimism came even after peace talks in Pakistan fell apart last weekend, with Vice President JD Vance telling reporters that the Iranians had refused to pledge that they would no longer pursue the development of a nuclear weapon.
“The leaders they have — and now it’s a new regime — and we find them pretty reasonable to be honest with you, by comparison pretty reasonable,” he said. “It really is a new regime.”