Washington/Beirut/Jerusalem, April 16, 2026: United States President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, marking a potential pause in fighting amid wider regional instability.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, President Trump said he held “excellent conversations” with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following which both sides agreed to formally begin a ceasefire at 5:00 p.m. EST.
“These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE,” Trump wrote, adding that senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, would work to help secure a more lasting settlement.
He further claimed that the arrangement followed recent diplomatic engagement in Washington involving Lebanese and Israeli representatives, describing it as the first such high-level interaction in decades.
President Trump said he would invite both leaders to the White House for what he called “the first meaningful talks” between the two countries in decades, expressing optimism that a longer-term peace agreement could be achieved.
He also noted that the United States has been engaged in multiple global mediation efforts, stating his administration had “solved nine wars” and expressing confidence that this could become the tenth.
The ceasefire announcement comes amid sustained hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which intensified following the broader US–Israeli military campaign against Iran earlier this year.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 2,100 people have been killed and over 1.2 million displaced since the escalation began. Israel reports casualties among civilians and military personnel during the conflict, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Despite the announcement, Israeli strikes reportedly continued in southern Lebanon, including the border town of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold.
A senior Lebanese security source also confirmed that an Israeli strike destroyed the last bridge over the Litani River, further isolating parts of southern Lebanon.
Lebanese President Aoun’s office confirmed separate calls with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, thanking Washington for its role in facilitating the ceasefire.
Aoun described the truce as a potential foundation for future negotiations with Israel, emphasizing that Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon would be a key condition for lasting peace.
The development comes as Pakistan continues its diplomatic engagement as a mediator in parallel US–Iran talks, with officials in Islamabad and Tehran stressing that stability in Lebanon remains closely linked to broader regional peace efforts.
While the ceasefire is expected to temporarily ease tensions, analysts caution that the situation remains fragile, with ongoing military activity on the ground and unresolved political and security disputes between the parties.
