Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that took effect at 5pm US East Coast Time (21:00 GMT) on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said and reported by Al Jazeera.
In a post on Truth Social, 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”.
Prime Minister of Lebanon Nawaf Salam welcomed the ceasefire in an announcement on X, in which he described the ceasefire as “a central Lebanese demand we have pursued since the first day of the war” and the primary goal of the meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials on Thursday in the US. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he had agreed to the truce, which presented his country with an opportunity with a “historic deal” with Beirut.
The war in Lebanon, which had been going on since 2 March between Israel and Hezbollah – the Iran-backed Shia militia and member of the Axis of Resistance – has cost the lives of hundreds of Lebanese civilians. In addition, at least 400 Hezbollah fighters were killed – according to internal sources – while 14 Israeli soldiers were killed and another 411 were injured. 22 Lebanese soldiers, a Civil Defense member and 3 UN peacekeepers were also killed in the crossfire, while at least 4 soldiers, 11 Civil Defense members and 6 UN peacekeepers were injured.
