Netanyahu Vows Troops Will Stay in Lebanon Despite 10-Day Ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon despite the announcement of a temporary 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu said in a video statement that he had agreed to the ceasefire as announced by Trump, emphasizing that Israel saw “an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement with Lebanon.” However, he stressed that Israeli forces would stay in an “expanded security zone” in southern Lebanon near the border with Syria, declaring, “Here’s where we are located, we are not leaving.”

The ceasefire was set to take effect at midnight on Friday, following Trump’s announcement on Truth Social that he had spoken with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu, who agreed to begin the truce at 5 P.M. EST. Trump said he had directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Razin’ Caine to work with both nations to achieve a lasting peace.