Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a meeting at the White House with top U.S. officials, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following negotiations at the White House. The agreement comes amid mixed views within Lebanon about the controversial talks, with some supporting diplomacy and others advocating for armed resistance. Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's offensive began after Hezbollah's March 2 attack.
The agreement provides breathing room for both countries to continue diplomacy by pushing off the looming expiration of an initial 10-day ceasefire brokered last week. President Donald Trump announced the extension on Truth Social, stating that the meeting 'went very well' and that the U.S. will work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah.
The ceasefire was set to expire on Sunday, aiming to end more than seven weeks of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement. On Thursday evening local time, as talks in Washington were underway, Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at northern Israel in response to an Israeli 'violation of the ceasefire.' The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they intercepted the launches.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could meet at the White House within the next three weeks, as part of ongoing efforts to extend the ceasefire. According to Lebanese authorities, nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel went on the offensive following Hezbollah's March 2 attack.
The talks come amid a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has offered a narrow window for diplomacy after weeks of cross-border fighting. The core conditions that led to the war remain unchanged, with Hezbollah refusing to disarm without a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Israel will not withdraw without Hezbollah disarming.
In Lebanon, views on the talks are deeply divided. Some see negotiations as the only viable path forward, while others reject them outright, advocating for armed resistance led by Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has declared Hezbollah's military activities illegal and assigned the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to disarm the group. However, progress has been slow, and internal disputes over Hezbollah's weapons persist.
Analysts suggest that Lebanon should establish its own terms of reference in the negotiations to avoid undermining its standing and alienating regional allies. The outcome of these talks remains uncertain, with both sides holding firm to their positions and little trust in each other as good-faith actors.
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