Trump: 'We expect a complete ceasefire' between Hezbollah and Israel
Key Points:
- US President Donald Trump announced a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel, after signing a deal with Iran to permanently end military operations in Lebanon.
- The Trump administration criticized Israeli attacks on Hezbollah but acknowledged Israel's right to respond to attacks, while privately urging Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon—a request Israel has rejected.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel's commitment to maintaining its security zone in southern Lebanon, emphasizing the need to protect northern towns and rejecting troop withdrawal demands.
- Israel and Lebanon, along with Hezbollah, have expressed commitment to a ceasefire agreement, with Israel stressing its right to respond to attacks and Lebanon's parliament speaker supporting adherence to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
- The ceasefire and related agreements are seen as efforts to support ongoing US-Iran negotiations, with Lebanon and Hezbollah recommitting to peace to facilitate diplomatic progress.