Post by : Bianca Suleiman
Washington / Beirut: In a pivotal move, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that leaders from Israel and Lebanon have consented to a 10-day ceasefire aimed at easing escalating tensions in the region.
The ceasefire is expected to commence at 5 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). Although Trump's announcement on Truth Social did not mention a specific start date, a US official later verified that the truce would be initiated immediately.
This announcement came after several high-level diplomatic talks. Trump stated he engaged in “excellent conversations” with Benjamin Netanyahu and Joseph Aoun, both of whom agreed to suspend hostilities to facilitate the peace process.
To further these diplomatic efforts, Trump has appointed senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, to collaborate closely with both countries.
In addition, a prominent figure from Hezbollah, Hassan Fadlallah, mentioned that the group received notice through Iran’s envoy to Lebanon concerning a potential one-week ceasefire starting Thursday evening. He stressed that Hezbollah's commitment hinges entirely on Israel refraining from any acts of aggression.
The conflict intensified on March 2, when Hezbollah initiated attacks in support of Iran, resulting in a significant Israeli military response in Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, over 2,100 people have lost their lives, while more than 1.2 million have been displaced due to the violence.
From the Israeli perspective, officials report that the attacks from Hezbollah have led to the deaths of two civilians and 13 soldiers.
Despite this development regarding the ceasefire, an Israeli security official clarified that there are no intentions to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon during this period.
In a related update, Trump indicated his intention to invite both Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for continued discussions aimed at fostering long-term peace. Israel and Lebanon have been in a formal war state since 1948.
This proposed ceasefire presents a key moment for reducing tensions and facilitating longer-lasting diplomatic solutions in the area plagued by conflict.
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