Temporary Truce: Israel, Lebanon reach 10-Day ceasefire deal
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US President Donald Trump has announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, set to begin at 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT; midnight local time) on Thursday.
The agreement comes after six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s participation in the truce but stated that Israeli troops would remain in a 10km-deep security zone in southern Lebanon, insisting they would not withdraw.
Hezbollah signalled readiness to observe the ceasefire but said it must involve a complete halt to Israeli attacks across Lebanon and restrict Israeli troop movements.
Iran welcomed the ceasefire, having earlier pushed for Lebanon to be included in its own proposed truce with the US. Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have been exploring a second round of peace talks in Pakistan. President Trump said both sides had reached some common ground, including an understanding that Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons beyond 20 years, while cautioning that failure to reach a deal could lead to renewed conflict.
The latest clashes began on 2 March, shortly after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Hezbollah launching rockets into northern Israel. The group said the attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Since then, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, with over a million displaced and tens of thousands of homes destroyed or damaged. Israel reports that Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians and 13 soldiers.
The ceasefire follows rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington aimed at easing tensions. Trump said he plans to host Netanyahu and Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun at the White House for what he described as the first meaningful talks between the two countries since the Lebanese Civil War.
Under the terms outlined by the US State Department, the truce could be extended if progress is made in negotiations. Israel retains the right to act in self-defence, while Lebanon’s security forces are recognised as having primary responsibility for maintaining security.
Despite the agreement, both sides continued cross-border strikes in the hours leading up to the ceasefire. Key issues, particularly the future of Hezbollah’s weapons, remain unresolved, with Lebanese authorities maintaining that disarmament would require dialogue rather than force.
Netanyahu described the ceasefire as an opportunity for a historic peace deal but reiterated that Israeli forces would stay in southern Lebanon to prevent potential threats. He added that disarming Hezbollah would be a central demand in future negotiations.
Meanwhile, the US said Lebanon had committed to taking steps to prevent Hezbollah and other armed groups from carrying out attacks against Israel.
Casualty figures from Lebanon’s health ministry indicate over 2,100 deaths, including women and children, though it does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Israeli authorities maintain that Hezbollah attacks have caused limited civilian casualties in Israel but resulted in military losses.
On Thursday, Israeli forces also destroyed a key bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, deepening isolation in the region and raising concerns about a possible prolonged military presence.
Source: BBC
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