U.S. Extends Israel–Lebanon Cease-Fire by Three Weeks

Overview

• President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the Israel–Lebanon cease-fire will continue for three more weeks after talks at the White House.
• The second round of U.S.-mediated talks brought Israeli and Lebanese envoys to the Oval Office, and Trump said he hopes to host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun in Washington soon.
• Trump said the United States will work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, while Israel has pressed for the group’s disarmament and Beirut seeks an Israeli pullback.
• Despite the truce, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon this week killed at least five people, including journalist Amal Khalil, and the Israeli military said it intercepted a Hezbollah drone that violated the deal.
• Israel continues to operate inside a self-declared 5–10 km buffer in southern Lebanon, Lebanese officials report about 2,500 deaths since March 2, and Hezbollah leaders reject direct negotiations with Israel.