Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire in Lebanon, Calls for Hezbollah Cooperation
Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon, set to be followed by a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese leaders next week. This deal is hoped to bring progress toward a parallel peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
The ceasefire took effect at midnight on Thursday in Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting devastating airstrikes aimed at wiping out the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Trump provided few other details, apart from the start time and length of the agreed truce.
Trump's Call for Hezbollah to Act 'Nicely and Well'
In a post on his Truth Social platform from Air Force One, the US president urged Hezbollah to cooperate during this critical period. "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time," Trump wrote. "It will be a GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!"
He later told reporters, "At the right time I would visit Lebanon," indicating potential future diplomatic engagement in the region.
Upcoming Israeli-Lebanese Summit in Washington
The Israeli occupation is likely to be the subject of talks that Trump said would take place in Washington next Tuesday between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This marks the first Israeli-Lebanese summit in decades, signaling a significant step in regional diplomacy.
Trump's announcement comes amid ongoing tensions, with Israel's airstrikes in Lebanon causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. For instance, Wael Sabbagh, whose mother Afaf Sidaoui and brother Hassan were killed in an Israeli strike on an apartment building on April 8, was seen standing at the strike site in Tallet El Khayat in Beirut on April 15, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
Broader US Political Context and Other Developments
In related news, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US is "locked and loaded" to finish destroying Iran's energy grid, escalating rhetoric in the US-Iran standoff. Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV criticized world leaders for invoking religion to justify violence, in a speech seen as a veiled rebuke of Trump's policies.
Other key stories from the day include Trump nominating Erica Schwartz as CDC director, RFK Jr facing accusations of promoting dangerous conspiracy theories at a budget hearing, and the US House approving a bill to shield 350,000 Haitians from deportations.
Additionally, hundreds of redacted records reveal Amazon's alleged pressure on sellers to raise prices on competitors' sites, and Utah emerges as a major center of measles infections in the US. These events underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of current US politics and international relations.
