Donald Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon Starting Tonight

Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, set to begin at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, posting the news on his Truth Social platform after what he described as "excellent" conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Trump stated that both leaders had agreed to formally initiate the truce as a step toward achieving peace between their two countries. The announcement came after 46 days of conflict and, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, nearly 2,200 deaths. Neither the Israeli nor Lebanese governments had officially confirmed the ceasefire at the time of the announcement, with Arab media sources reporting that Beirut only learned of the plans through Trump's post. Trump added that he would invite both Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House for what he described as the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983.

Washington talks mark first direct contact in 34 years The ceasefire announcement followed direct diplomatic talks held in Washington on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, described as the first such contact between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in 34 years. The discussions took place at the ambassadorial level under the auspices of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who framed the meeting as a step toward permanently ending what he called 20 to 30 years of Hezbollah influence in the region. Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, after meeting with Rubio, asserted that Lebanon and Israel were "on the same side" in seeking to eradicate Hezbollah. Lebanese President Aoun described the ceasefire as "the natural starting point for direct negotiations between both countries" and pointed to his commitment to stopping Israeli escalation and halting attacks against civilians. According to reporting by Haaretz, Rubio's call with Aoun reiterated Washington's commitment to a cessation of hostilities as a preliminary step toward stability in Lebanon. Trump stated he had instructed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Vice President JD Vance, alongside Rubio, to work with both countries toward a lasting peace.

„I just had excellent conversations with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel. They have agreed that, in order to achieve peace between their countries, they will formally begin a 10-day ceasefire at 5:00 PM EST” — Donald Trump via Truth Social

Israel launched its military campaign in Lebanon on March 2, 2026, targeting Hezbollah's strike capabilities. The conflict followed years of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which had intensified in the period surrounding the broader regional escalation that began with the Gaza war in October 2023. The last direct diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon at a comparable level had taken place in 1993, according to reporting by Franceinfo. Lebanon's political landscape has been shaped for decades by Hezbollah's armed presence in the south of the country, which successive Lebanese governments have been unable or unwilling to disarm.

Hezbollah cautious, Israeli forces kept positions in south Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group whose forces have been the primary target of Israeli operations, was notably absent from the ceasefire agreement and had previously denounced the Washington talks as a "capitulation." Hezbollah parliamentarian Hassan Fadlallah told Reuters that the Iranian ambassador in Beirut had informed him of a ceasefire "of one week that could begin tonight," suggesting the group received information through indirect channels rather than direct negotiation. Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Moussaoui stated the group would respect the ceasefire under conditions.

„We are going to respect the ceasefire in a prudent manner provided that it is a global cessation of hostilities against us and that Israel does not exploit it to carry out assassinations” — Ibrahim Moussaoui via Franceinfo

The agreement, as announced, does not include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, a point that had been a central Lebanese demand. According to reporting by The New York Times, the U.S. administration had avoided demanding an immediate halt to Israeli attacks or a withdrawal of forces from Lebanese territory during the Washington talks, instead reaffirming Israel's "right to defend itself" against Hezbollah. Israeli forces continued operations through Thursday, including three consecutive attacks against paramedic teams in southern Lebanon that left four health workers dead and six wounded, according to sources cited by LaSexta. Since the start of the offensive on March 2, at least 91 health workers have been killed in Lebanon, according to the same reporting.

Death toll reaches 2,196, including 172 children Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health placed the total number of deaths from Israeli attacks at 2,196 as of Thursday, among them 172 children, with more than 7,000 people wounded. Israeli bombs caused 29 additional deaths in Lebanon in the 24 hours preceding the ceasefire announcement, according to Lebanese health authorities cited by El País. The Israeli army had continued advancing through southern Lebanon in the hours before the announcement, destroying the last bridge over the Litani River and pushing toward the town of Bint Jbeil, described as symbolically significant for Hezbollah. Israeli Technology Minister Gila Gamliel defended the diplomatic track, stating that "every military campaign must be accompanied by diplomatic action," and noted that Netanyahu planned to speak with Lebanese President Aoun. The Lebanese presidency subsequently clarified that Aoun had held only one telephone conversation — with Rubio, not Netanyahu. Reporting by El País noted that Netanyahu had not mentioned any ceasefire in a video address the previous day, in which he spoke exclusively of military advances, and that the truce was described as politically difficult for him in an election year after he had pledged the definitive defeat of Hezbollah.

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