Lebanon-Israel truce begins, Trump invites Aoun and Netanyahu to White House talks

A ten-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday, as US President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

The truce, which Trump said would begin at midnight local time in Lebanon and Israel (2100 GMT), comes as Washington steps up efforts to reach a deal to end the war with Iran, with Tehran insisting a Lebanon truce must be part of any agreement.

The announcement comes days after the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington met at the US State Department and agreed to begin direct negotiations. The meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Washington's ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, and were the first direct, high-level talks since 1993.

Trump said the deal to halt hostilities came after "excellent" phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

"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," or 2100 GMT, Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

He later said he expected Netanyahu and Aoun to visit the White House "over the next four or five days". A top-level face-to-face meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli leadership would be a watershed moment for the region.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed Trump's announcement of a ceasefire, saying a truce was a "key Lebanese demand that we have pursued since the very first day of the war" between Hezbollah and Israel.

Once the ceasefire takes effect, the Lebanese government will take steps to prevent Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups in its territory from carrying out any attacks against Israel, according to the text of the ceasefire agreement released by the U.S. State Department.

"All parties recognise Lebanon's security forces as having exclusive responsibility for Lebanon's sovereignty and national defence; no other country or group has claim to be the guarantor of Lebanon's sovereignty," the agreement reads.

Israel can take necessary measures in "self-defence" against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks during the ceasefire period, but it agreed not to carry out any offensive military operations in Lebanon during the ten days.

The two countries have requested the United States to facilitate further direct negotiations between them to resolve all remaining issues, including demarcation of the international land boundary, according to the ceasefire agreement.

"Israel and Lebanon affirm that the two countries are not at war and commit to engaging in good-faith direct negotiations, facilitated by the United States, with the objective of achieving a comprehensive agreement that ensures lasting security, stability, and peace between the two countries," the text released by the U.S. State Department said.

The Department said the ceasefire period may be extended by mutual agreement.

Israel to keep 'security zone'

Netanyahu said Thursday that the ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Beirut, but insisted that the disarmament of Hezbollah remained a precondition.

"We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a televised speech.

He said Israel will maintain a 10-kilometre (6.2-mile) "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon, amid an ongoing invasion and fierce clashes with Hezbollah. Many in Lebanon are worried that Hezbollah's disarmament is being used as a pretext for a new Israeli occupation.

Israel occupied southern Lebanon between 1982 and 2000.

For days, fighting has concentrated in the key town of Bint Jbeil. Even after the ceasefire came into effect on Friday, the Lebanese army reported violations by Israel, including intermittent shelling of several southern Lebanese villages.

Netanyahu added that Israel maintained two conditions for the ceasefire: Hezbollah's disarmament, and a lasting peace agreement "based on strength".

He said he rejected the two conditions posed by Hezbollah: Israel's full withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and a ceasefire based on the principle of "quiet in return for quiet."

Aoun rejects call with Netanyahu

In Lebanon, Hezbollah has signalled caution, warning that any ceasefire must fully halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon and be adhered to by all parties. The Iran-backed militant group said the agreement must not give Israel the freedom of movement in Lebanon.

Sources in the group told The New Arab that it remains committed to defending Lebanon as long as Israeli attacks continue, stressing that any truce must include a full cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal, and the release of prisoners.

Sources also told TNA that Aoun rejected any direct contact with Netanyahu, with Lebanon maintaining its position of not recognising Israel.

In a call with Trump earlier Thursday, Aoun urged Washington to intensify efforts to secure a ceasefire, before the agreement was announced.

"Aoun wished for Trump to continue these efforts for a ceasefire as soon as possible," the Lebanese presidency said, adding that Trump reaffirmed his support for Lebanon and commitment to achieving a truce quickly.

The president had earlier received a call from Rubio, during which he thanked Washington for its efforts.

Sources said Aoun held internal consultations over the proposed contact with Netanyahu and was advised against it, including by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Israeli attacks continued on Thursday across southern Lebanon, and a strike even targeted a car along the busy Beirut-Damascus highway in the Dahr al-Baidar area.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,100 people and displaced around a million people since fighting resumed on 2 March between Hezbollah and Israel. An 8 April strike on Beirut was the biggest Israeli attack on the capital in decades.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and the eastern Beqaa region have killed dozens of people and wounded more.