Trump claims Lebanon truce as fighting persists

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he had secured commitments from both Hezbollah and Israel to halt hostilities, portraying the development as a diplomatic breakthrough to avert a wider war in Lebanon. The announcement followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order for attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

“

Trump says he persuaded Israel and Hezbollah to halt attacks, seeking to prevent a wider war in Lebanon.

Netanyahu's office stated that attacks on Beirut would proceed if Hezbollah continued its attacks on Israeli cities, while military operations in southern Lebanon would continue as planned. This stance highlights a significant gap between the U.S. president's claims and Israel's declared intentions.

“

Netanyahu’s office on Monday said attacks on Beirut would proceed if Hezbollah continued attacks on Israeli cities, while military operations in southern Lebanon would continue as “planned”.

The situation was further complicated by warnings from Iran, whose chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, indicated that Tehran might halt its negotiations with the U.S. if Israel's military campaign in Lebanon persisted. This threat underscores the delicate nature of the regional diplomacy.

“

Iran says Lebanon covered by ceasefire terms: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington applies across the region, including Lebanon, warning that any violation would undermine the broader agreement and carry consequences for the US and Israel.

Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett noted that Trump's intervention was driven by concerns that an Israeli advance on Beirut could derail ongoing negotiations with Iran. While Trump framed the events as a diplomatic success, Halkett pointed out the substantial divergence between Washington's optimism and Israel's rhetoric, suggesting the fragile progress remains vulnerable to collapse.

“

Trump claims breakthrough to avert escalation: The US president said he secured commitments from both Israel and Hezbollah to stop fighting after speaking with Netanyahu and Hezbollah intermediaries, portraying the move as a diplomatic breakthrough that prevented a wider Israeli offensive towards Beirut and helped keep broader regional negotiations on track.