President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, stating it would begin at 2100 UTC following conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump invited both leaders to the White House for the first meaningful direct talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, calling the ceasefire a step toward achieving peace and claiming it as his “10th war” solved.
"I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "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. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. 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. It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE!"
The ceasefire followed a rare meeting between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in Washington on Tuesday, the first such encounter in decades, hosted by Secretary Rubio. Hostilities between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah escalated amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
While Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed the truce as a “pivotal Lebanese demand,” Hezbollah expressed skepticism, with senior lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah saying their adherence depends on Israel halting all hostilities. Lebanese President Aoun reportedly refused to speak directly with Netanyahu, citing the ongoing Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, though he thanked Trump and Rubio for their mediation efforts.
Israel conducted a major strike on the last bridge connecting southern Lebanon across the Litani River, severing critical infrastructure just before the ceasefire took effect.
Despite the truce, Netanyahu confirmed Israeli forces would remain in a 6-mile-deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon, framing the ceasefire as a “timeout” contingent on Hezbollah’s disarmament and a future peace agreement.
Trump linked the Lebanon ceasefire to broader negotiations with Iran, emphasizing that U.S. military readiness remains high—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that combat operations could resume if Iran does not agree to a deal, including on enriched uranium limits. The U.S. asserts the Lebanon ceasefire is separate from its truce with Iran, though Iran claims otherwise.
But Iran had rightly maintained that its 2-week ceasefire agreement with the U.S. also covers the Israel-Hezbollah war, and has reportedly refused to engage in a second round of negotiations with the U.S. in Pakistan, if Israel does not pause it's military operations in Lebanon.
Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and CENTCOM Commander Adm. Bradley Cooper held a briefing confirming a sustained U.S. blockade of all Iranian ports and the coastline, distinct from a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, began at 1400 UTC on Monday, following the collapse of peace talks in Islamabad, with U.S. forces warning that they will use force against any vessel attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports regardless of nationality.
13 ships have turned away in the past 24 hours after receiving warnings; over 10,000 U.S. personnel, a dozen ships, and dozens of aircraft are involved, with enforcement occurring in both Iranian territorial seas and international waters. Hegseth stated the blockade would last "as long as it takes" and warned that if Iran rejects a deal, U.S. forces are ready to resume strikes on infrastructure, power, and energy facilities.
Caine emphasized that U.S. forces remain "locked and loaded" and that Iran lacks the defense industry to replenish offensive or defensive capabilities lost during over five weeks of prior strikes. Adm. Cooper noted that the current ceasefire is being utilized to rearm, retool, and adjust tactics, with high troop morale and a focus on preventing Iran from moving military assets.
The blockade was initiated after peace talks in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement, prompting the U.S. to escalate pressure on Tehran. While the U.S. insists the operation targets specific Iranian ports rather than the broader Strait of Hormuz, the military has indicated it will pursue any vessel, including those in the "dark fleet," providing material support to Iran.
Hegseth further criticized the press for negative coverage, comparing them to the Pharisees, while affirming that U.S. objectives—preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon—remain firm.
