A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect just after midnight Thursday, brokered by the Trump administration as a stepping stone toward talks between the two nations' leaders next week in Washington. The truce represents the first formal pause in Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that has faced months of devastating bombardment.
The arrangement sets up a Tuesday summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, marking the first high-level Israeli-Lebanese meeting in decades. Trump officials hope the ceasefire and subsequent dialogue could create momentum for broader negotiations with Iran.
Trump offered sparse operational details about the truce but signaled his personal commitment to the process. "At the right time I would visit Lebanon," he told reporters Thursday. The president also posted a direct message to Hezbollah on his Truth Social platform, written while traveling to Las Vegas on Air Force One.
"I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time," Trump wrote. "It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!"
The ceasefire timing carries significant diplomatic weight. The upcoming Netanyahu-Aoun meeting represents a rare opportunity for direct engagement between Israeli and Lebanese officials, though the occupation of Palestinian and Lebanese territories remains a central point of contention between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Pentagon officials kept pressure on Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Thursday that Iran's energy infrastructure "is not destroyed yet" and declared the US military "locked and loaded" to complete that mission, signaling continued readiness for military action regardless of the Lebanese ceasefire progress.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's 10-day gambit could reshape the whole region, but betting everything on Hezbollah playing nice while the Pentagon stays locked and loaded feels like threading a needle with a sledgehammer."
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