Trump reviews Lebanon ceasefire stance after Netanyahu call

CBS News reported that US President Donald Trump has reconsidered his position on including Lebanon in the ceasefire plan following a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The network said that Trump had initially agreed that the Middle East ceasefire announced on Wednesday would apply across the region, including Lebanon. 

However, the US position changed after the call between Netanyahu and Trump.

According to CBS News, Mediators, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that Lebanon was part of the agreement.

Israel intensified its air strikes on Wednesday, targeting around 100 sites within just ten minutes, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, according to the Lebanese Civil Defence. It said the total number of casualties from attacks between 2 March and 8 April had reached 1,739 killed and 5,873 wounded.

In the same context, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Thursday a national day of mourning for the victims of the attacks, as debate continues over whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. Iran and Lebanon have affirmed its inclusion, while Israel has denied this and continues its military operations.

This comes after US President Donald Trump announced on the night of 8 April that an agreement had been reached with Iran for a two-week ceasefire, following a deadline in which he warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Tehran did not open the Strait of Hormuz.

READ: Netanyahu orders direct talks with Lebanon amid ongoing strikes