By Anayo Akwitti
The Trump administration says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire.
The US president has expressed his frustration with Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing hostilities, which have put any peace deal between the White House and Iran at risk.
Tehran has said any agreement is contingent on an end to the fighting between Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and the Israeli military.
It remains to be seen whether this latest announcement of a ceasefire really makes a difference. The two sides had agreed to one last month, but the violence has continued.
Israel has invaded southern Lebanon and, earlier this week, indicated Beirut, the capital, was in its sights.
Despite the ongoing violence, which has extended to tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that a deal is close.
Trump is keen to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened. Its closure has sent global oil and gas prices soaring.
But he has said his top priority is to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons and told reporters at the White House on Wednesday he was confident there could be a deal by the end of the week.
“If it happens, it could happen over the weekend,” he claimed.
