Trump pledges swift Lebanon ceasefire in call with Aoun

Lebanon’s presidency announced on Thursday that US President Donald Trump has pledged to respond to Beirut’s request for a ceasefire “as soon as possible” following a direct phone conversation with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The afternoon call saw Aoun express gratitude for Trump’s ongoing efforts to halt hostilities and establish lasting stability along Lebanon’s southern border. According to an official statement, Aoun voiced hope that Washington would continue pushing for a rapid truce.

Washington’s mediation and Hezbollah’s rejection

Trump, for his part, reaffirmed his backing for Lebanon and Aoun, stressing his determination to meet Beirut’s demands for a ceasefire without delay. The exchange came just one day after Trump posted on Truth Social that the US was “trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon,” noting that direct talks between the two countries’ leaders would take place soon—marking the first such engagement in roughly 34 years. The diplomatic push follows Tuesday’s US-brokered negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese delegations at the State Department in Washington, DC. The Lebanese group Hezbollah, which was absent from those talks, has publicly rejected the initiative.

Ongoing Israeli occupation

Both sides have reportedly agreed to launch direct peace negotiations, though the venue and timing remain undecided. The development unfolds as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon—some areas held for decades, others seized during the 2023-2024 war.