According to Bloomberg and CNN, U.S. President Donald Trump’s “tough phone call” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led Israel to agree to direct ceasefire negotiations with Lebanon.
U.S. and Israeli sources described Thursday’s conversation between Trump and Netanyahu as a “tense and blunt call.” Shortly afterward, Israel announced it would begin direct ceasefire talks with Lebanon.
Reports suggest Netanyahu realized that if Israel did not engage in negotiations, Trump might unilaterally announce a ceasefire.
This development comes just a day after Trump declared a two-week ceasefire with Iran, while the U.S. expressed concern that Israeli strikes were undermining the truce.
Trump also urged Netanyahu to scale down attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, especially after Israeli strikes reportedly killed 303 people on Wednesday.
According to Bloomberg, Netanyahu was informed only shortly before the call that Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire deal.
Sources indicate that this pressure played a key role in pushing Israel toward negotiations.
