Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire that US President Donald Trump declared on April 16, the US State Department announced on Friday.
Ceasefire Extension Details
State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott stated, "The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress." The talks held in Washington on Thursday and Friday were described as "highly productive," and the countries will reconvene negotiations on June 2 and June 3.
Background of the Conflict
This week's talks marked the third meeting between the sides since Israel intensified air attacks on Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on March 2, three days into the US-Israeli war on Iran. Israel had widened its ground invasion into southern Lebanon last month. The war in Lebanon, fought in parallel to the US-Iran conflict, has continued since the ceasefire declaration on April 16, though hostilities have largely been contained to southern Lebanon.
