U.S. President Donald Trump [EPA Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 16th (local time) that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ten-day official ceasefire.

President Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, on the same day, "I just had a very productive conversation with esteemed President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon and Prime Minister Bibi (nickname for Benjamin) Netanyahu of Israel," and revealed this.

President Trump announced the start time of the ceasefire agreed upon by the two leaders as "5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (6 a.m. Korean time on the 17th)."

In another post immediately following, President Trump said, "In addition to the statement I just made, I will be inviting Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Aoun to the White House for meaningful talks between the two countries for the first time since 1983," adding, "Both sides desire peace, and I believe it will happen quickly."

Even after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the 7th, Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon, stating its intention to repel the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, while Iran claimed this was a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Accordingly, ahead of the expiration of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on the 21st, attention is being paid to whether this ceasefire agreement can positively impact the U.S.-Iran peace negotiations.

However, given that the current fighting in Lebanon is not between the regular armies of Israel and Lebanon but between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, it is likely that Hezbollah's consent will be required for the ceasefire to take effect.

Israel and Lebanon have been in a de facto state of war for 78 years since the establishment of Israel in 1948.

Earlier, Israel and Lebanon held ceasefire negotiations in Washington D.C. on the 14th, represented by their ambassadors to the U.S., under the mediation of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Rubio. This was the first high-level meeting between the two countries since 1993.

In a Truth Social post, President Trump mentioned that this meeting was "held after 34 years" and stated, "I have directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve lasting peace."

He added, "It has been my honor to resolve nine wars around the world, and this will be the tenth. So, let's GET IT DONE."

The U.S. Department of State released a document containing six specific provisions related to the ceasefire agreement between the two countries on the same day.

First, both countries agreed to engage in good-faith negotiations for a permanent security and peace agreement during the ceasefire period, and the ceasefire can be extended by mutual agreement if negotiations progress and Lebanon demonstrates effective sovereignty.

Israel reserves the right to take any necessary measures for its self-defense against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks, but it pledged not to conduct any military offensive operations against targets in Lebanon, including civilian, military, and other state objectives.

The Lebanese government agreed to take meaningful steps, with international support, to ensure that the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and all other non-state armed groups within Lebanese territory do not engage in any attacks, operations, or hostile acts against Israel.

All parties acknowledged that the Lebanese security forces hold exclusive responsibility for Lebanon's sovereignty and national defense, and stipulated that no state or entity can claim to be a guarantor of Lebanese sovereignty.

The document also included a request from Israel and Lebanon to the United States for further direct negotiations between the two countries, aiming to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation, to ensure lasting security, stability, and peace in the future.

The Department of State stated, "The United States will lead international efforts to support Lebanon as part of a broader effort to promote stability and prosperity in the region."