WASHINGTON, United States, April 16, 2026 (AFP) – Hopes grew for a ceasfire between Israel and Lebanon as US president Donald Trump announced that talks between the leaders of both countries would take place on Thursday, while the Financial Times reported a ceasefire could be announced soon, citing Lebanese officials.

“Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon,” Trump said Wednesday on his Truth Social platform, referring to a meeting held in Washington the day before — the first direct negotiations between senior officials from the two countries since 1993.

He said the leaders would speak on Thursday, without identifying participants or giving further details.

A senior US administration official said earlier that Trump would “welcome” an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, but stressed that any such outcome is not part of talks between Washington and Tehran.

“The president would welcome the end of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The United States wants to see a durable peace but did not demand an immediate ceasefire,” and “negotiations between the US and Iran are not linked to ongoing peace talks between Israel and Lebanon,” according to the official.

Washington’s focus is on building trust between the Lebanese and Israeli governments “so that we can create space for a peace deal, and so that any future understandings can be durable.”

“Both sides need to build political momentum,” the official added.

Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday of two central objectives in the talks with Lebanon: “First, the dismantling of Hezbollah; second, a sustainable peace… achieved through strength.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in neighboring Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks into its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Ending the fighting in Lebanon was a key sticking point in earlier peace talks, along with how to deal with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

A Lebanese official told Arab News reporters on Wednesday that intensive contacts were underway with international and regional actors to secure a halt to the hostilities, with a ceasefire a non-negotiable condition for moving forward.

“Lebanon is insisting on a full ceasefire before entering any formal negotiations,” the source said, adding that the government “will not relinquish a single inch of Lebanese territory.”

Since the start of its war on March 2 Israel has killed more than 2,100 Lebanese people overall.