Trump Announces 10-Day Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire After Talks With Netanyahu and Joseph Aoun

A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was agreed to after the United States, Israel, and Lebanon reached the arrangement, with the ceasefire beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, corresponding to April 16, 2026 (27 Farvardin 1405).

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had very productive discussions with Joseph Aoun, the President of Lebanon, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and the two leaders agreed to officially begin the 10-day ceasefire to achieve peace between their countries starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (21:00 UTC).

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in a speech on Tuesday that any Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon must be “on the basis of clear timelines and from all Lebanese territory,” and he outlined what he described as five principles including a complete halt to fighting and full withdrawal.

Qassem added, “Israel will withdraw and the Lebanese army will deploy in the south of the country, and we will cooperate with the process…,” while he said his side would cooperate with the process and thanked Iran for not agreeing to end the war without Lebanon’s issue being resolved.

After Israel’s bombardment of the southern suburbs of Beirut early Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said in interviews with American media that his intention was to lift the naval blockade on Iran as soon as the agreement is signed, and he said the signing would take place remotely about three hours after his remarks.

In the same reporting, Trump vented his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu over the bombardment, declaring “this should not have happened” and at a “crucial moment,” while Pakistan, which was leading the mediation, echoed Trump’s words and said it was moving forward with the final arrangements to achieve that on Sunday.

Anadolu Ajansı

In Lebanon, Hezbollah continued its attacks on northern Israel near the town of Kiryat Shmona, according to the Israeli army on Sunday evening, as the reporting described verbal escalation from Lebanese and Iranian decision-makers after the bombardment.

Major General Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said, “Lebanon is our soul, and we will not accept violations of our red lines, and the response is imminent,” and an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement on Telegram blamed the United States and Israel for any “serious consequences” on regional peace and security.

France 24 reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expected talks on the final agreement with Washington to begin on Friday in Geneva, and he stressed that ending the war permanently on all fronts, including Lebanon, constitutes the most important issue.

“Published on June 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM; Last updated: June 17, 2026 at 12:20 AM”

France 24

France 24 also said Hezbollah’s media office told Reuters that the group believes Tehran will not sign a nuclear deal with Washington unless Israel withdraws its forces from southern Lebanon, and it said the withdrawal would be the result of the coming round of talks between Tehran and Washington rather than a precondition.

The same France 24 reporting said the Iranian Joint Chiefs of Staff, headquartered at the Seal of the Prophets base, vowed on Tuesday a strong response if Israel does not halt its attacks on southern Lebanon.

In parallel, the ynetglobal reporting described Hezbollah deputy leader Wafiq Safa saying in a widely circulated podcast that “Perhaps not this generation, but the next will realize the vision of conquering the Galilee,” while Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said, “We will not sign an agreement that leaves the enemy with freedom of action.”