BEIRUT\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Israel agreed Thursday to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, a truce that could pause fighting with the militant group Hezbollah and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. and Israel after weeks of devastating war.<\/p>\n
President Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, however, but rather with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants inside the country.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah said in a statement that any truce must apply \u201cacross all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire \u201cto advance\u201d peace efforts with Lebanon. \u201cWe have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon,\u201d he said in a video message.<\/p>\n
Israeli forces have engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah in the border area. Israeli troops have pushed into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a \u201csecurity zone,\u201d which Netanyahu has said will extend at least five to six miles into Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Hezbollah said that \u201cIsraeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it, and this matter will be determined based on how developments unfold,\u201d a stance that could complicate the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said Israeli troops will stay in an expanded security zone in southern Lebanon \u201cmuch stronger, more extensive and more continuous than before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is where we are, and we are not leaving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trump posted the ceasefire announcement on his social media website, saying it was to begin at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The announcement comes two days after the countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades, in Washington. Hezbollah had opposed direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump extends White House invitation<\/p>\n
Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.<\/p>\n
Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.<\/p>\n
Trump also invited the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House for what he said would be \u201cthe first meaningful talks\u201d between the countries since 1983.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly,\u201d Trump wrote.<\/p>\n
Lebanon and Israel signed an agreement in 1983 saying Lebanon would formally recognize Israel, and Israel would withdraw from Lebanon. The deal fell apart during Lebanon\u2019s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.<\/p>\n
Trump said the pause in fighting followed \u201cexcellent\u201d conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
A Hezbollah official said the ceasefire was a result of Iran\u2019s negotiations with the U.S., in which Iran had insisted Lebanon be included in its own ceasefire, and came about through efforts by mediator Pakistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.<\/p>\n
Pakistan army chief meets with Iranian parliament speaker<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Pakistan\u2019s powerful army chief met Thursday with Iran\u2019s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused almost seven weeks of war<\/a> pitting Israel and the U.S. against the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n It was unclear whether the frantic diplomacy could lead to a lasting deal as the two-week ceasefire passes the halfway mark. The Iran war has killed thousands of people and upended global markets<\/a> by disrupting the flow of oil.<\/p>\n Iranian state television did not provide details on the meeting between Pakistani army Gen. Asim Munir and Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has emerged as his country\u2019s chief negotiator.<\/p>\n There was no immediate comment from Pakistan, which has become a key mediator after hosting direct talks between the U.S. and Iran that authorities said helped narrow differences between the sides. Mediators are seeking a new round before the ceasefire expires next week.<\/p>\n The White House said any further talks regarding Iran would probably take place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, though no decision had been made on whether to resume negotiations. The fragile ceasefire is holding despite a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and Iranian counterthreats to target regional ports across the Red Sea.<\/p>\n The 14-day ceasefire expires April 22, but Trump suggested it could be extended.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019re close to a deal, would I extend?\u201d Trump said in an exchange with reporters. \u201cYeah, I would do that.\u201d<\/p>\n The war has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have pounded military and civilian infrastructure. Oil prices have fallen amid hopes for an end to the fighting, and U.S. stocks on Wednesday surpassed records set in January.<\/p>\n Officials say U.S. and Iran are making progress<\/p>\n Even as the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats strained the ceasefire, regional officials reported progress, telling the AP that the United States and Iran had an \u201cin-principle agreement\u201d to extend it to allow for more diplomacy. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.<\/p>\n But tensions simmered.<\/p>\n The commander of Iran\u2019s joint military command, Ali Abdollahi, threatened to halt trade in the region if the U.S. does not lift its naval blockade, and a newly appointed military advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he does not support extending the ceasefire.<\/p>\n Mediators seek compromise on sticking points<\/p>\n Mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points: Iran\u2019s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damage, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.<\/p>\n Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the Islamic Republic is open to discussing the type and level of its uranium enrichment, but his country, \u201cbased on its needs, must be able to continue enrichment,\u201d state media reported.<\/p>\n The Pentagon urged Iran to make a deal, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth telling reporters that \u201cultimately, they need to come to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the U.S. will ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d prefer to do it the nice way through a deal led by our great vice president and negotiating team. Or we can do it the hard way,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n Iran insists it does not seek a nuclear weapon and its nuclear program is for peaceful proposes.<\/p>\n The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in gulf Arab states. Thirteen U.S. service members have also been killed.<\/p>\n Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration would ramp up economic pain on Iran with new economic sanctions<\/a> on countries doing business with it, calling the move the \u201cfinancial equivalent\u201d of a bombing campaign.<\/p>\n China calls for Strait of Hormuz to reopen<\/p>\n Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the window of peace was opening during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.<\/p>\n