Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire talks appear to be gaining momentum after President Donald Trump said Lebanese leaders and Israeli officials would speak on Thursday. Reuters reported a truce could be announced within days, even as fighting continues on the ground in southern Lebanon.
Trump said he was trying to create “a little breathing room” between Israel and Lebanon. His remarks added to growing speculation that diplomatic efforts may soon produce a breakthrough on one of the most volatile fronts in the wider regional conflict.
Lebanese officials believe a ceasefire could be announced this week or within days. Those expectations come as Israeli ground forces continue operations around Bint Jbeil, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a Hezbollah stronghold his troops were close to defeating.
The reports suggest any ceasefire is likely to follow the completion of Israel’s push in southern Lebanon. That means diplomacy is moving ahead in parallel with active military pressure.
Trump said on Truth Social late on April 15 that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon, who he said had not spoken in “like 34 years,” would hold talks on April 16. The post framed the conversation as part of an effort to reduce tensions between the two sides. This follows direct diplomatic talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Washington earlier in the week, described as the first such high-level contact in more than three decades. That gives the latest message added significance.
Ceasefire Push Faces Serious Complications
One major point of friction is whether the current two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire also applies to Lebanon. Iran and Pakistan reportedly argue that it should, while the United States and Israel insist that the Israel-Lebanon track is separate. A senior Trump administration official said Trump would welcome an end to hostilities in Lebanon, but also stressed that U.S.-Iran negotiations are not linked to peace efforts involving Israel and Lebanon.
Read: Lebanon-Israel Peace Talks Mark Rare Diplomatic Breakthrough
Israel launched its offensive in Lebanon on March 2, 2026, after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Lebanese health ministry figures say more than 2,167 people have been killed, including 172 children and 91 medical personnel, while more than 1 million have been displaced.
Those figures underline why pressure for a truce is increasing. Even as diplomacy gains traction, the conflict remains active and highly unstable.
