"Israel will no longer bomb Lebanon. The US forbids them from doing that. Enough is enough," US President Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on 17/4.

He added that Washington would cooperate with Lebanon to resolve the Hezbollah issue "appropriately."

US President Donald Trump at the White House on 16/4. *Photo: AP*

Minutes after Trump's announcement, Lebanese media reported one person was killed in the country's south following an Israeli drone attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not commented on the incident.

Earlier on 17/4, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared they had not completed their objective of dealing with Hezbollah, pledging to continue "dismantling" the Iran-backed armed group. His statement came just hours after the 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon took effect that day.

"Hezbollah is now just a shadow of its former self during its heyday under the leadership of Hassan Nasrallah," Netanyahu said, referring to the group's leader killed by Israel in 2024. "But we have not yet completed our mission. There are things we plan to do to address the remaining missile and drone threat."

He added that the goal of "dismantling" Hezbollah would not be achieved "overnight," suggesting it would require "persistent effort, patience, and skillful diplomacy."

Location of Israel, Lebanon. *Graphic: AFP*

The recent escalation began when the Hezbollah group launched attacks into Israel from 2/3, retaliating for Iran's late supreme leader. These attacks prompted Israeli counterattacks, with the conflict killing over 2,000 people in Lebanon and displacing 1,2 million.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was facilitated after Trump's phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Trump expects the leaders to meet soon at the White House to work towards peace between the two nations.

This 10-day ceasefire followed a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, reached on 8/4. After that initial agreement, Israel had intensified its offensive campaign in Lebanon. Iran considers Lebanon an "integral part" of any long-term peace agreement, a stance Israel opposes.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Times of Israel)