Trump Announces Three-Week Extension of Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump announced the extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for a period of 3 weeks.

Trump clarified in a post on the "Truth Social" platform: "The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended for 3 weeks," adding: "I look forward to welcoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun soon."

An Israeli-Lebanese negotiating meeting was held at the White House, with Trump receiving negotiation teams from both sides.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that Beirut's demands during the meeting would include "an extension of the ceasefire... halting the destruction of homes, assaults on civilians, places of worship, journalists, and the medical and educational bodies." He added: "I hope to be able to visit Washington and meet with Trump to detail the true situation in Lebanon," emphasizing that "communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was never an option for me."

The recent war between "Hezbollah" and Israel broke out on March 2 after the group launched rockets at the Hebrew state in response to the assassination of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran on February 28.

The two countries, which have been in a state of official war since 1948, held a round of talks in Washington on April 14, marking the first of its kind since 1993, in an attempt to end the conflict.

Two days after these talks, the United States announced a ten-day truce in the war that resulted in the deaths of more than 2,400 people in Lebanon and the displacement of over a million.

Participating in Thursday's talks, similar to the previous round, were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Israeli ambassador to Washington Yahyael Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamada Maouad, in the presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Aoun.

This session comes as "Hezbollah" and Israel exchange accusations of violating the ceasefire.

Three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched rockets at the settlement of Shatola, and the Israeli army later announced the elimination of the group that fired them.

In addition to airstrikes, Israel continues to carry out demolition and destruction operations in border villages, preventing residents of dozens of villages from returning.

In contrast, "Hezbollah" announced on Thursday, in three statements, two targeting operations against groups of Israeli soldiers in the town of Taibe, and the downing of an Israeli reconnaissance drone in the town of Majdal Zoun, stating this was "in response to the Israeli enemy’s violations of the ceasefire and its violation of Lebanese airspace."

According to the text of the ceasefire agreement published by the U.S. State Department last week, Israel retains the "right to self-defense" against operations being conducted or planned against it.

An official Lebanese source reported on Wednesday that "Lebanon will request an extension of the ceasefire" which ends this weekend, "for a month, halting Israel's demolition and destruction operations in areas where its army is present and adhering to the ceasefire."

During the first meeting, the two countries agreed to start direct negotiations "at a time and place to be agreed upon," according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott at that time.

Lebanon appointed former ambassador to Washington Simon Karam as head of the negotiating delegation with Israel.