The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will remain in place for another three weeks, according to U.S. President Donald Trump, following talks in Washington with representatives from both countries. The extension comes as clashes involving Hezbollah continue to unsettle southern Lebanon despite the temporary reduction in violence.
Trump said the agreement to prolong the truce followed a high-level meeting at the White House attended by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Moawad. He later indicated that he hopes to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for further talks, saying there is a realistic chance for broader progress this year.
The ceasefire had been due to expire on Sunday. While it has helped lower the level of fighting, hostilities have not stopped entirely. Reuters reported that Israeli strikes the previous day killed at least five people, including journalist Amal Khalil, while Hezbollah also carried out attacks in southern Lebanon and toward northern Israel.
Lebanon entered the talks seeking more than just extra time. Lebanese officials want the next phase to address an Israeli military withdrawal from the south, the return of Lebanese detainees held in Israel, and discussions on the land border. Israel, meanwhile, has made clear that its priority remains weakening Hezbollah and preventing the group from maintaining a military threat near its frontier.
Hezbollah has signaled that it supports continuing the ceasefire, but only if Israel fully complies with its terms. At the same time, the group has rejected direct negotiations with Israel and insists it retains what it calls the right to resist occupation.
The current arrangement reflects a fragile pause rather than a lasting settlement. Israeli troops remain in a self-declared buffer zone in southern Lebanon, and both sides continue to accuse each other of violations. That leaves the ceasefire intact for now, but still vulnerable to renewed escalation if diplomacy fails to produce tangible results.
