Israel supports Trump's two-week Iran ceasefire but says Lebanon excluded

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel supports US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for two weeks. "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," the office said on X.

Lebanon excluded

Trump announced Tuesday that he agreed "to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, announced that Washington and Tehran, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire across all conflict zones, including Lebanon. However, Netanyahu's office said the two-week ceasefire "does not include Lebanon," indicating that Israeli operations against Hezbollah will continue.

Ceasefire terms

The ceasefire is contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz "completely, immediately, and safely." Trump said the US received a 10-point proposal from Iran and "believes it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." Talks are set to begin in Islamabad on Friday, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Vice President JD Vance expected to attend.

Conflict context

The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,400 people according to Iranian authorities. Israel has also conducted a ground offensive in Lebanon since March 2, with Lebanese authorities reporting over 1,500 killed. The exclusion of Lebanon from the ceasefire suggests continued fighting on the northern front.