Trump speaks with Lebanese president amid Israel ceasefire push
· Axios
President Trump spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday, a Lebanese official told Axios.
Why it matters: The call comes as Israel is weighing whether to accept a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah. Lebanon has called for a ceasefire, and a U.S. official told Axios that Trump would "welcome" such a decision.
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- An Israeli security cabinet meeting on Lebanon on Wednesday night ended with no decision about a potential ceasefire.
- An Israeli defense official said a ceasefire could be announced on Thursday night. "We are at a crossroads. Nothing is final but it could happen today," the official said.
Between the lines: The ceasefire proposal is politically sensitive for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it could help Trump reach a peace deal with Iran.
- While the two tracks are officially separate, Iran claims the ongoing Israeli attacks in Lebanon constitute a violation of the truce it agreed with the U.S.
- The U.S. and Israel deny that the Iran ceasefire applies to Israel's offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel conducted a string of mass casualty strikes after the Iran truce was agreed.
State of play: Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted a rare meeting between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats on Tuesday.
- Rubio also spoke with Aoun earlier on Thursday. Rubio affirmed the continuation of the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire as a prelude a longer-term agreement for peace, security, and stability in Lebanon.
- The calls were the first time Trump and Rubio had spoken with the Lebanese president since he took office.
- On Wednesday night Trump wrote on Truth Social that he is "trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon." He added in his post that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak on Thursday, though neither side has confirmed that.
What to watch: Lebanon is one factor in the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, which sources say have shown some progress in the past 48 hours.