President Donald Trump has declared a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, characterizing it as a preliminary move towards a lasting resolution to the conflict between the two nations. This significant announcement, relayed through Trump’s Truth Social platform, marks a pivotal moment in ongoing diplomatic efforts.

In a bid to further these peace initiatives, Trump has extended invitations to both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Lebanese President for discussions at the White House. This invitation aims to solidify the progress made and explore opportunities for a more enduring peace agreement.

The ceasefire, which is set to commence today at 5 p.m. EST, was the result of high-level discussions held in Washington earlier this week. This diplomatic breakthrough comes after personal conversations between Trump and the leaders of Israel and Lebanon, underscoring the administration’s active role in facilitating dialogue.

Trump elaborated on the agreement, highlighting that representatives from both countries had met in Washington on Tuesday, marking the first such diplomatic engagement in over three decades. “I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel,” Trump stated. “These two leaders have agreed that, in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a ten-day ceasefire at 5 p.m. EST.”

The administration has assigned a senior delegation to manage the transition from this temporary truce to a more enduring agreement. This team features Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all of whom will play crucial roles in overseeing the peace process.

Trump explains further that the administration has tasked a senior delegation to oversee the transition from a temporary truce to a long–term agreement. This team includes Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine.

The President added: ‘It has been my honor to solve nine wars across the world, and this will be my tenth, so let’s get it done!’

This ceasefire comes amid heightened regional tension and follows months of diplomatic maneuvering by the White House.

While the ten–day window is brief, the pause is intended to provide the necessary space for formal negotiations regarding long–term stability.

President Donald Trump announced a ten–day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, describing the truce as an initial step toward a permanent end to hostilities between the two nations

Despite negotiations, airstrikes have continued in the region. Above, the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Wednesday 

It wasn’t clear whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would attend the talks

The military campaign between Lebanon and Israel has become a major sticking point in Trump’s quest to bring an end to the war in Iran.

The Israeli-US strikes against Iran on March 2 intensified already frayed relationships in the region. 

Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, has been participating in the armed conflict by launching missile attacks against Israel. 

Israel’s retaliation in Lebanon has resulted in a catastrophic death toll, with estimates exceeding 2,000 Lebanese casualties. More than one million people have also been forced to flee their homes. 

Earlier this month, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz said the nation was planning to set up a security zone on Lebanese territory, which would prevent thousands from returning to their homes. 

In an effort to broker peace, several Lebanese and Israeli officials met at the US Department of State headquarters in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. 

Rubio hosted the meeting, which included Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. 

‘We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation, and that’s the most positive thing we could have come away with,’ Leiter said after the meeting. 

Trump stated that the agreement was reached following personal conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, noting that representatives from both countries met in Washington on Tuesday, marking the first such diplomatic encounter in 34 years

Rubio, center, in between Michael Needham and Ambassador Michel Issa, called the talks ‘historic’ and ‘productive’ 

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter declared that both nations were ‘united in liberating Lebanon’ from Hezbollah after the meeting 

He added that the discussion focused on a ‘clearly delineated border’ between Israel and Lebanon.

‘The security of our civilians is not up for negotiation. This was a victory for sanity, for responsibility and for peace,’ Leiter said.

Leiter also declared that both nations were ‘united in liberating Lebanon’ from Hezbollah.  

Lebanon’s Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, called the meeting ‘productive’ while Rubio noted that the talks are a ‘process.’ 

Rubio added: ‘It’s a historic gathering that we hope to build on.’

Instability between Lebanon and Israel has contributed to the enduring conflict in the region. 

Lebanon and Israel have engaged in peace negotiations in 1983 and 1993. However, following the Hamas-led attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, the conflict drastically escalated.

A fragile cease-fire was implemented at the end of 2024, but was never fully enforced.