President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, to begin on Thursday at 5pm ET.
The big picture: The U.S. has been pressing for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for several days, while working in parallel on a potential peace deal with Iran.
What he's saying: "I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. 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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
- Trump said he would be inviting Aoun and Netanyahu to the White House "for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983."
Between the lines: The ceasefire plan is politically sensitive for Netanyahu, but it could help Trump reach a peace deal with Iran.
- While the two tracks are officially separate, Iran claims the ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon constitute a violation of the truce it agreed with the U.S.
- The U.S. and Israel deny that the Iran ceasefire applies to Israel's offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel conducted a string of mass casualty strikes after the Iran truce was agreed.
In recent days, the Iranian regime continued to condition a second meeting with the U.S. and a deal to end the war on a ceasefire in Lebanon.
- While the Trump administration and Israel claim the Lebanon and Iran ceasefires are entirely separate, the sense of urgency from the White House over the last two days to get a ceasefire in Lebanon was driven by its efforts to reach a deal with Iran, a former U.S. official said.
- The Iranian foreign ministry welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and claimed it was part of the Iran-U.S. ceasefire understandings.
The intrigue: Trump made his announcement shortly after Netanyahu convened his security cabinet for an urgent conference call to discuss the ceasefire and vote on it.
- The ministers — who must approve any such decision — heard about Trump's announcement several minutes into the call, before any serious discussion had started.
- "Trump pushed this ceasefire through," a senior Israeli official said.
- The security cabinet also met on Wednesday night to discuss Lebanon but no decision was reached on a ceasefire.
How it happened: Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted a rare meeting between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats on Tuesday. The ceasefire was discussed in the meeting but no decisions were made.
- The Lebanese ambassador acknowledged in the meeting "that Hezbollah is a mutual problem for both Israel and Lebanon," a White House official said.
- On Wednesday evening, after the Israeli cabinet meeting ended without a decision on a ceasefire, Trump spoke with Netanyahu on the phone and asked him for a ceasefire.
- The White House official said Netanyahu agreed to a ceasefire "with certain terms."
- After that call, Rubio called Aoun overnight on Wednesday, and got his commitment to the ceasefire, the White House official said.
- Later on Wednesday night, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon." He added in his post that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak on Thursday, though neither side had confirmed that.
Behind the scenes: The Lebanese government was caught off guard by Trump's post. Lebanese officials said it was unlikely Aoun would agree at this stage to speak to Netanyahu.
- On Thursday morning, Rubio spoke with Aoun again and discussed the ceasefire. Aoun reportedly told Rubio that a call with Netanyahu would be premature and asked to speak to Trump directly, according to a source with knowledge.
- Several hours later, Trump called Aoun to finalize the ceasefire deal. It was the first time Trump had spoken with the Lebanese president since he took office.
- During the call, Trump invited Aoun for a joint meeting with Netanyahu at the White House. The Lebanese president was non-committal and said he would be happy to do it at some point in the future, according to a source with knowledge.
- Trump called Netanyahu again right afterwards. Soon after that, Trump announced the ceasefire deal.
Zoom in: As Trump and Rubio were making those calls, the State Department was working with the two governments to formulate a Memorandum of Understanding for the ceasefire, a White House official said.
- According to the agreement, the 10-day ceasefire is defined as an Israeli "gesture of goodwill" in order to launch negotiations on a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
- This 10-day ceasefire may be extended by mutual agreement "if progress is demonstrated in the negotiations and as Lebanon effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty," the document reads.
According to the agreement, Israel preserves the right to take military action, even during the ceasefire, "in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks."
- Israel commits not to take offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets.
- The government of Lebanon committed to "take meaningful steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other rogue non-state armed groups" from carrying out any attacks against Israeli targets.
- Netanyahu said Israel would not end its occupation of the 6-mile deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon. But he said Israel had "an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon."
The big picture: As part of the ceasefire agreement, the U.S. will facilitate direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon on the demarcation of their land border, in order to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement.
- A joint statement published by the State Department claimed both countries agreed to "recognize each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border, while preserving Israel's inherent right to self-defense."
- The two countries also recognize "the significant challenges faced by the Lebanese state from non-state armed groups" and "understand that those groups' activities must be curtailed" and that only state bodies will be allowed to bear arms.
- "Israel and Lebanon affirm that the two countries are not at war and commit to engaging in good-faith direct negotiations, with the objective of achieving a comprehensive agreement that ensures lasting security, stability, and peace between the two countries," the joint statement reads.
- The Lebanese government didn't confirm it had agreed to those terms. Some of them, including recognition of Israel, would demand a change to Lebanese laws.
- The Lebanese government only acknowledged the terms of the ceasefire and the plan to hold direct peace talks with Israel.
What's next: "I have directed Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Razin' Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a Lasting PEACE," Trump added in his post.
- Trump told reporters he might hold the meeting with Netanyahu and Aoun at the White House "in the next week or two."
- A source close to Aoun said the Lebanese president is unlikely to agree to such a meeting as long as Israeli forces occupy parts of Lebanon.
This is a developing story and has been updated throughout.
