The White House on Thursday laid out how the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came together, starting with a meeting Secretary of State Marco Rubio held with ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday.
According to a White House official, Lebanon acknowledged during this meeting that Hezbollah is a “mutual problem.”
Wednesday evening: President Donald Trump held a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which Netanyahu agreed to the ceasefire “with certain terms,” though the White House official did not offer specifics on those terms.
The president then directed Rubio to call the Lebanon President Joseph Aoun. During that conversation, which took place overnight Wednesday, Rubio was able to secure an agreement to the ceasefire from Lebanon.
Thursday morning: Trump spoke with Aoun by phone, followed by another call with Netanyahu to finalize the agreement.
According to the White House, the State Department was simultaneously working with the respective governments to formulate a memorandum of understanding for the ceasefire. The State Department on Thursday released a six-point statement outlining the terms of the ceasefire, which they said was agreed to by Israel and Lebanon. The points include Israel’s continued “right to take all necessary measures in self-defense,” and the possibility that the truce could be extended.