Jakarta, ThedailyID — Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon after U.S.-led mediation, with President Donald Trump saying he urged Israel to halt further escalation.
According to a senior U.S. official, the ceasefire took effect at around 4 p.m. local time in Lebanon (1300 GMT). The official said negotiators from the United States and Qatar finalized the agreement with assistance from Iran.
Reuters cited two Hezbollah sources and a senior Israeli official as confirming that the ceasefire had entered into force.
“If Hezbollah does not attack us, then for us this is no longer a time of war,” the Israeli official said.
However, the official added that Israel would keep its troops in southern Lebanon, an area where Hezbollah maintains a strong presence.
Trump told NBC News that he had spoken with Israeli leaders and urged them to accept the ceasefire.
“Sometimes you just have to calm down and use common sense,” Trump said, according to an NBC News reporter who posted the remarks on X.
Trump declined to say whether he spoke directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In recent days, Trump has publicly expressed frustration with Netanyahu’s approach to Lebanon. He argued that continued Israeli military operations complicated U.S. diplomacy with Iran and threatened broader regional negotiations.
The ceasefire also comes as Washington continues pursuing a temporary memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at easing regional tensions.
The disagreement has exposed strains between the United States and Israel. Several Israeli ministers have criticized the U.S.-Iran memorandum and argued that Israel should not accept outside pressure on its security decisions.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both urged Israeli leaders to support the ceasefire and avoid further escalation.
Trump also said Israel should recognize the role his administration played in dealing with Iran during the broader regional conflict.
Meanwhile, Axios reported that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is traveling to Switzerland for the first round of talks with Iran on a possible nuclear agreement.
Despite the ceasefire, two Lebanese security sources said Israel carried out about a dozen airstrikes during the first hour after the truce took effect. However, they reported no additional strikes after 5 p.m. local time.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks since midnight had killed 47 people and injured 97 others. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said four of its soldiers died in an incident in Lebanon but did not provide further details.
Diplomats view stability in Lebanon as an important element of broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Officials hope the ceasefire will create momentum for further diplomatic efforts across the region.
