President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, following talks in Washington between envoys from both countries.
The agreement, which was set to expire on Sunday, aims to halt more than seven weeks of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Trump said the discussions went well and emphasized that the United States would work with Lebanon to facilitate it protect itself from Hezbollah.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Trump added that both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit the White House in the coming weeks.
Leiter stated that Israel and Lebanon share the goal of removing what he described as “this malign influence called Hezbollah” from Lebanon. Despite the ceasefire, both sides have accused each other of violations, with Hezbollah reportedly firing rockets at northern Israel on Thursday evening in response to an alleged Israeli breach.
The Israel Defense Forces said they intercepted the launches. Trump also linked the diplomatic progress to broader efforts involving Iran, suggesting a simultaneous resolution could be achieved.
The extension underscores ongoing U.S. Involvement in mediating regional tensions and highlights the fragility of recent de-escalation efforts along the Israel-Lebanon border.
