Trump says 'Israel', Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Trump announces three-week extension after White House talks.
- Ongoing strikes expose fragility of truce.
A ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks following high-level talks at the White House, US President Donald Trump announced Thursday.
Read more: 'Israeli' strikes kill 5 in Lebanon, Beirut to seek truce extension
The truce, first enacted on April 16 to halt fighting between ‘Israel’ and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, remains a central element in broader US-Iran diplomatic efforts. Despite the extension, continued exchanges of fire during negotiations have underscored the deal’s instability.
White House diplomacy
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited Trump’s direct involvement for securing the extension, describing it as critical to keeping negotiations alive.
Read more: Lebanon’s president says ceasefire extension talks are underway
“The president wanted to be personally involved… because it made it possible to get this extension,” Rubio said, adding that the pause offers time to pursue a more permanent resolution.
Disagreements over security
During the talks, ‘Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, said peace between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon is achievable. He argued that efforts should focus on dismantling Hezbollah rather than on ‘Israeli’ troop deployments in southern Lebanon.
However, skepticism emerged from ‘Israel’s envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who warned the extension remains uncertain.
“Hezbollah is sending rockets trying to sabotage the ceasefire,” Danon said, adding that ‘Israel’ would continue to respond militarily.
Violations during truce
Hostilities have persisted despite the ceasefire. Both sides have launched strikes, including an ‘Israeli’ attack in southern Lebanon on Wednesday that killed a journalist and seriously injured another.
Lebanon’s prime minister condemned the strike, accusing ‘Israel’ of committing war crimes.
The extension provides a limited window for further negotiations, but continued violence on the ground raises doubts about whether a lasting agreement can be reached. Diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify in the coming weeks as mediators attempt to stabilize the fragile truce.
