Lebanon and Israel have agreed to extend their ceasefire for an additional three weeks following high-level discussions at the White House, according to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump said the breakthrough came after a second round of U.S.-facilitated talks held in the Oval Office, where he met Israel’s ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter and Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S. Nada Moawad. The meeting took place a day after Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least five people, including a journalist.
The talks were attended by senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump later described the discussions as productive and said there was a “great chance” both sides could reach a broader peace agreement within the year.
The ceasefire extension comes as tensions remain high in southern Lebanon, where sporadic violence has continued despite a previous truce that was due to expire on Sunday. The initial agreement had already helped reduce large-scale clashes, though cross-border attacks have persisted.
During the meeting, Trump said the United States would work with Lebanon to help strengthen its ability to defend itself against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group involved in ongoing hostilities with Israel. Hezbollah was not part of the talks and has stated that it retains the right to resist what it considers occupation.
Lebanese ambassador Nada Moawad expressed gratitude for U.S. involvement, saying the support could help Lebanon rebuild and stabilise. Israeli officials, however, stressed that discussions should prioritise addressing Hezbollah’s influence rather than focusing solely on Israeli troop withdrawal.
The latest developments come amid continued unrest in the region, with both sides accusing each other of violating earlier understandings. Violence in southern Lebanon has intensified in recent weeks, with reports of casualties and continued military operations.
Despite the fragile situation, U.S. officials have expressed cautious optimism that the extended ceasefire period could open the door for further negotiations aimed at a longer-term peace arrangement between the two countries.
