President Donald Trump announced a brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that begins at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday and will run for 10 days, following intensive talks led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. The agreement follows recent heavy strikes on Hezbollah and is presented as a major diplomatic win achieved through direct engagement between leaders who met in the U.S. capital for the first time in decades.
This announcement landed on social media and framed the deal as the product of high-level conversations with Lebanon’s president and Israel’s prime minister. The administration says the pause in hostilities is intended to halt immediate fighting and open space for longer-term arrangements that hold Hezbollah accountable. Officials pointed to this step as part of a broader push to reduce Iranian-backed influence in the region.
According to the White House release, the ceasefire will last 10 days and begin at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday. That timeline is being treated as a window to implement confidence-building measures and to negotiate mechanisms that prevent a quick return to violence. Supporters argue a clearly bounded pause gives diplomats time to work without active combat undermining talks.
President Trump released a statement highlighting the direct conversations that produced the agreement. He credited Secretary Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and military leadership for their roles in pushing the talks forward. The message emphasized the administration’s track record of resolving conflicts and framed this effort as another example of decisive action.
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.
Washington hosted face-to-face meetings that brought Israel and Lebanon together for the first time in 34 years, a fact the administration stressed as historically significant. Rubio served as the lead mediator during those sessions, and officials described the talks as substantive and goal-oriented. The gathering aimed to produce concrete commitments rather than symbolic gestures.
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! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Supporters of the deal argue it could significantly blunt Hezbollah’s operational freedom and reduce Iran’s leverage in the Levant. By getting Lebanon’s leadership more directly involved in restraining the group, the administration says it can cripple one of Tehran’s most persistent regional proxies. Conservative voices framed the initiative as a rare success of bold diplomacy backed by credible military resolve.
Critics remain skeptical about enforceability and long-term impact, noting that ceasefires can fray quickly if underlying drivers of conflict are not addressed. Still, supporters counter that a 10-day window is a pragmatic first step that can lead to more durable arrangements if both sides adhere to commitments. The administration’s posture combines diplomatic pressure with continued readiness to support allies defensively.
Observers in Washington highlighted Marco Rubio’s role as the lead negotiator and credited him with facilitating direct dialogue. The meetings were characterized as the first meaningful bridging of positions between the two governments in decades, underscoring the novelty of the moment. Those involved described the atmosphere as focused and determined to produce tangible results.
U.S. officials also emphasized coordination with military leaders to ensure any ceasefire holds and to deter violations. The Pentagon’s involvement was presented as a critical element for building confidence on both sides that breaches would have consequences. For conservatives backing the administration, combining diplomacy with credible defense options is the right formula for lasting security gains.
The White House framed the effort as part of a broader strategy to isolate Iranian influence and reduce threats to American interests and allies in the region. Republican supporters hailed the administration for taking action where previous administrations spoke without delivering comparable results. The move is being cast as a proactive measure to protect civilians and to create diplomatic space for deeper reforms.
Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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