Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire in Lebanon

Latest Developments

• Trump Announces Ceasefire: Following conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump announced on April 16 that a ceasefire between Hezbollah and the IDF in Lebanon would start at 5 p.m. EST. “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,” Trump said. 
• Netanyahu and Aoun Invited to Washington: Along with the announcement, Trump invited both Netanyahu and Aoun to Washington for what he labeled “the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago.” It was unclear whether either leader had accepted or would accept the invitation. Lebanon’s U.S. embassy had earlier insisted that Aoun would not speak with Netanyahu in the near term.
• Hezbollah-Affiliated MPs Weigh In: Despite no immediate comment from the Hezbollah terrorist organization, Hezbollah-affiliated members of Lebanon’s parliament credited Iran with achieving the ceasefire. Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc parliament member Raed Barou stated, “We support a ceasefire as long as the other side adheres to it.” Hassan Fadlallah, another member of the bloc, told Reuters that Iran would be monitoring the ceasefire’s progress. 

FDD Expert Response

“This ceasefire comes at an inopportune time in the fight against Hezbollah. The group is on the cusp of losing Bint Jbeil, a symbolically and militarily significant locale, and 10 days may give Hezbollah just the reprieve necessary to regroup and reinforce itself in the town, preventing the Israelis from taking it. If this is coupled with continued inaction against the group from the Lebanese side — and so far, the signals from Beirut are not promising — then Hezbollah will once again have a path to regeneration and rearmament.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“Washington and Jerusalem have demonstrated to Beirut that Lebanese sovereignty, when practiced, goes a long way. Instead of Iranian negotiators discussing Lebanon’s fate in Islamabad, Lebanese negotiators discussed their country’s future in Washington. This demonstration of the importance of sovereignty can help build trust between Lebanon and Israel on the way to lasting peace and normalization between the two neighboring countries.” — Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Israel and Lebanon Hold Direct Talks in Washington as War With Hezbollah Continues,” FDD Flash Brief

“A Breakdown of Israel’s Heavy Bombardment of Beirut on April 8,” by David Daoud

“U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations With Iran Do Not Extend to Hezbollah in Lebanon,” by David Daoud and Joe Truzman

“Israel Launches Large Wave of Strikes Against Hezbollah,” FDD Flash Brief