Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire for another 45 days following high-level negotiations mediated by the United States in Washington.
The extension was confirmed after two days of talks concluded on Friday, just ahead of the existing ceasefire’s scheduled expiry on Sunday.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott described the discussions as “highly productive”, saying the temporary extension would allow both sides additional time to continue negotiations aimed at reducing long-standing tensions between the neighbouring countries.
The latest discussions marked the third round of meetings since Israel intensified attacks on Lebanon after the Iran-backed Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel on March 2 during the wider US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
The escalation triggered heavy Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, displacing an estimated 1.2 million people before a ceasefire was announced last month by US President Donald Trump.
Although the ceasefire reduced large-scale violence, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have reportedly continued in parts of southern Lebanon, where Israel maintains control over what it describes as a security zone.
The US-led mediation efforts are also taking place alongside broader diplomatic attempts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. Iran has reportedly indicated that ending Israel’s military operations in Lebanon forms part of its wider demands in negotiations involving the regional conflict.
During the talks, Lebanon’s delegation reportedly prioritised achieving a full end to hostilities, despite objections from Hezbollah over participation in discussions with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israel maintained that Hezbollah must eventually be disarmed as part of any future long-term peace agreement.
The negotiations in Washington are considered the highest-level direct engagement between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in decades and have since expanded to include military and security officials.
Pigott announced that a new security-focused negotiation track would begin at the Pentagon on May 29, while additional political talks are scheduled to take place through the State Department on June 2 and 3.
He said the US hopes the discussions could eventually pave the way towards lasting peace, mutual recognition of sovereignty and stronger border security between both countries.
Lebanon’s delegation also welcomed the extension, saying it could provide critical breathing space for civilians, strengthen state institutions and help create momentum towards long-term regional stability.
Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter meanwhile described the negotiations as “frank and constructive”, while stressing that Israel’s national security would remain the country’s top priority throughout the discussions.
