In brief
US President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, effective from April 16, 2026. The ceasefire aims to facilitate negotiations towards lasting peace and security in the region. Both leaders have welcomed the agreement, but tensions remain high as Hezbollah's role in the conflict is highlighted. Trump has urged Hezbollah to comply with the ceasefire, while the conditions for its viability include Israel's right to defense and Lebanon's commitment to curtail attacks by militant groups.
US President Donald Trump has announced that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, which took effect from 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT; midnight local time) on 16 April.
There was no mention in Trump's statement of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, with which Israel has been exchanging fire for the past six weeks. In a later post on Truth Social, Trump urged the group to abide by the ceasefire, saying, I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time.
Following the announcement, the US president also invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for further talks.
The terms of the deal specify that the ceasefire is set to last 10 days, with the possibility it being extended by mutual agreement if negotiations show signs of progress.
According to further details provided by the US State Department:
- Israel retains its right to take all necessary measures in self-defence, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks
- Lebanon must take meaningful steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other rogue non-state armed groups from carrying out attacks against Israeli targets
- Those involved recognize that Lebanon's security forces have exclusive responsibility for Lebanon's security
- Israel and Lebanon requested that the US continues to facilitate further direct talks with the objective of resolving all remaining issues
The statement also indicated that the truce was a gesture of goodwill by Israel intended to enable good-faith negotiations towards a permanent security and peace agreement.
Both leaders have welcomed the truce, with Netanyahu calling it an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed hopes that the agreement would allow displaced individuals to return to their homes. Hezbollah has signalled willingness to participate but emphasized the need for a comprehensive halt to attacks across Lebanon and restrictions on Israeli troop movements.
In a broader international context, Iran's foreign ministry has welcomed the ceasefire. UN Secretary General António Guterres praised the US's facilitation efforts while urging all sides to respect international law. The European Commission's President von der Leyen called the deal a relief, stressing the importance of Lebanon's sovereignty.
Despite the ceasefire, Netanyahu has maintained that Israeli troops will uphold a 10 km deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon to prevent invasions, a measure stemming from conflicts that erupted in March. Observers remain cautious about the longevity of the truce, given the history of clashes following previous ceasefire agreements.
