US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following renewed diplomatic talks in Washington.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the latest round of discussions between envoys from both nations “went very well,” adding that the United States would continue working closely with Lebanon to strengthen its ability to defend itself against Hezbollah.
The ceasefire, which was initially agreed upon during talks in Washington last week, had been due to expire on Sunday. It aims to halt more than seven weeks of escalating violence between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump revealed that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit the White House in the coming weeks as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“They do have Hezbollah to contend with,” Trump said, noting that Washington intends to assist Lebanon in stabilizing its internal security situation. He also suggested that progress in Lebanon could align with broader US efforts involving Iran.
During the meeting, Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter both commended Trump’s role in facilitating dialogue. Leiter emphasized that both countries share a common objective of eliminating Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon.
Despite diplomatic progress, tensions remain high. Both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire. As talks began in Washington, Hezbollah claimed it launched rockets into northern Israel in response to what it described as Israeli violations. The Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted the projectiles.
Meanwhile, Lebanon has accused Israel of committing war crimes after airstrikes in the south killed a journalist and injured another—claims the Israeli military denies.
Ahead of the negotiations, Israeli officials stated there were no major disagreements with Lebanon and called for joint efforts to counter Hezbollah.
Last week’s meeting marked the first direct, high-level engagement between Israeli and Lebanese officials in over 30 years. A previous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was reached in November 2024, though clashes have continued intermittently since then.
The latest escalation followed a major regional development: after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader, Hezbollah retaliated with rocket and drone attacks on Israel in early March. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across Lebanon, particularly in the south and in Beirut, and redeployed troops into southern Lebanese territory, where they remain stationed.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 2,294 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the conflict intensified, including women and children. Israeli authorities report that Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians in Israel and 15 soldiers in cross-border fighting.
The humanitarian toll has been severe. Data from the United Nations indicates that more than one million people in Lebanon—around 20% of the population—have been displaced, most from southern regions devastated by ongoing strikes.
Hezbollah, a powerful Shia militia and political force, remains a central issue in the conflict. While the US, Israel, and some Lebanese factions have called for its disarmament, the group has refused to engage on the matter.
President Aoun has warned that disarming Hezbollah by force could trigger further instability, stressing that any resolution must come through negotiations. Supporters of the group argue it remains a necessary defense force in a country with fragile state institutions.
