Trump says he told Israel to accept Hezbollah ceasefire as 47 killed in final airstrikes
Al Arabiya—President Trump said he personally urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, using the phrase 'you just gotta calm down,' as both sides agreed to end hostilities in Lebanon. The ceasefire deal came after a final wave of Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 47 people, according to Arab News, marking a brutal end to the latest round of fighting. Israel had been applying combined diplomatic and military pressure to force Hezbollah's disarmament, but the agreement does not appear to include full disarmament provisions. Trump's direct intervention in persuading Israel to agree to the ceasefire marked a significant exercise of US leverage over its closest ally in the Middle East. The durability of the deal remains uncertain given Hezbollah's history of rearming after previous ceasefires.
- Al Arabiya — Israel described its pre-ceasefire strategy as combined diplomatic and military pressure to force Hezbollah disarmament.
- Arab News — At least 47 people were killed in airstrikes in the final hours before Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire.
- NDTV — Trump told NBC he urged Israel to back the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah.
- Guardian — Trump said he told Netanyahu 'you just gotta calm down,' directly pushing Israel to accept the ceasefire.