‘A very historic meeting’: Trump announces three-week extension of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following high-level talks at the White House involving senior officials from both countries.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the meeting in the Oval Office with representatives from Israel and Lebanon “went very well” and included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the ambassadors of both countries to the United States. He said the United States would work closely with Lebanon to help it strengthen its ability to protect itself from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group.“The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS,” Trump wrote, adding that he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington in the near future. He described the talks as “a very historic meeting.”
The extension comes despite continued tensions on the ground. The initial ceasefire, which had been in place for just over a week, was due to expire on Monday and had already seen reported violations from both sides. Hezbollah has opposed the diplomatic process and has not taken part in the negotiations.Trump acknowledged the ongoing security concerns, noting that Israel “has a right to defend itself if they’re shot at.” Israeli officials present at the talks said they hoped the US-led engagement could pave the way towards more formal arrangements. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said there was hope of “formalising peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future.”Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad thanked Trump for his efforts, saying, “And I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again,” echoing Trump’s campaign slogan.The White House talks mark some of the first direct diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon in decades, despite the two countries being technically at war since 1948. The broader aim, according to Lebanese officials, includes ending Israeli strikes, withdrawal of troops, release of prisoners, and reconstruction efforts in affected areas.Israeli officials, meanwhile, have maintained that Hezbollah remains the central obstacle to lasting peace, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar calling Lebanon a “failed state” heavily influenced by the group.
