Trump announces 3-week extension of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks after direct ambassador-level talks at the White House. “The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, following an Oval Office meeting with ambassadors from both countries alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump described the meeting as “very successful” and said Washington would work with Lebanon to help “protect itself” from Hezbollah. He later told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will “most likely” visit the White House during the three-week ceasefire period.

Second round of historic talks

The meeting marked the second encounter between Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter amid a fragile truce. The two countries, which lack formal diplomatic relations, held their first direct talks in more than 30 years on April 14 at the State Department. The original US-brokered 10-day ceasefire, which took effect on April 16, had been scheduled to expire on Sunday. Trump said there is a “great chance” for peace between the two countries this year, but added that “Israel is going to have to defend itself, if they’re shot at.”

Continued violations and Lebanese concerns

More than 2,200 people have been killed and over one million displaced by Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2, following the US-Israeli war against Iran. Attacks have continued despite the April 16 ceasefire. Speaking after the talks, Ambassador Moawad said Lebanon emphasized the need to “stop Israeli violations and halt the destruction of towns” in the south. “We were given an extension to the ceasefire as we requested, and President Trump showed strong interest in Lebanon and promised us that he will make Lebanon great again,” she said. US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, who also attended, said Trump insisted that journalists and civilians be protected during the conflict.