Canada welcomes 10-day ceasefire announcement between Lebanon, Israel

Canada on Thursday welcomed the announcement of a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, with the country’s foreign minister describing it as "an important step towards de-escalation."

"Canada welcomes the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon," Anita Anand said in a post on the US social media platform X.

Noting that "this is an important step towards de-escalation," Anand urged all sides to "fully respect and implement the ceasefire to prevent further loss of life."

Reiterating Ottawa's position on the disarmament of the Lebanese group Hezbollah in line with UN Resolution 1701, she said: "Canada reaffirms our strong support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and state institutions."

"We stand in solidarity with civilians who continue to bear the consequences of a conflict they did not choose," she added.

Anand further expressed Canada's commitment to support "the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as for broader regional stability."

Earlier Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire starting at 5 pm EST (2100GMT).

The announcement followed US-mediated talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations that took place on Tuesday at the State Department in Washington, DC.