Trump says ‘let’s get it done’ after Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire

People cross on foot the Qasmieh bridge, the last bridge between the southern Lebanese cities of Tyre and Sidon regions, after it was targeted by an Israeli airstrike on April16 (Picture: AFP)

Donald Trump is claiming he is close to ending his tenth war after Israel and Lebanon agree on a 10-day ceasefire.

The move is a first step towards a peace deal for Trump’s deeply unpopular war in Iran and comes into effect at 5pm EST (10pm GMT).

The war has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have pounded military and civilian infrastructure.

The US President posted on Truth Social: ‘I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel.

‘These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M. EST. On Tuesday, the two Countries met for the first time in 34 years here in Washington, D.C., with our Great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

He said he wanted a ‘lasting peace’ between the nations, adding: ‘It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let’s, GET IT DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP’.

US President Donald Trump wants to end his tenth war (Picture: EPA) An Israeli strike that targeted the village of Kfar Tibnit on April 16

Israel and Lebanon

Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.

Lebanon and Israel signed an agreement in 1983 saying Lebanon would formally recognise Israel, and Israel would withdraw from Lebanon. The deal fell apart during Lebanon’s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.

But the deaths have multiplied after skirmishes mainly between Hezbollah and Israel, sparked by the October 7 attacks.

Israeli troops pushed deeper into southern Lebanon to create what officials have called a ‘security zone,’ which Netanyahu has said will extend at least 6 miles into Lebanon.

Since October 7, Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,089 people in Lebanon among them 252 women, 166 children and 88 medical workers.

More than one million people have been displaced.

Iran-backed Hezbollah, weakened after its last war with Israel that ended in November 2024, had been firing drones, rockets and artillery daily into northern Israel and on ground troops inside Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the ceasefire was his country’s first goal in landmark talks that took place with Israel in Washington on Tuesday between the country’s ambassadors to the U.S.

‘While I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I offer my condolences to the families of the martyrs who fell, and I affirm my solidarity with their families, with the wounded, and with the citizens forced to flee their cities and villages,’ Salam said.

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