US Announces 45-Day Extension of Israel–Lebanon Ceasefire as Talks Advance in Washington

Washington, May 2026 : Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by 45 days, according to a spokesperson for the United States State Department, marking a renewed diplomatic push to stabilise the volatile situation along the Israel–Lebanon border.

State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott announced on Friday (local time) that the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on April 16, will now be prolonged to allow additional time for political and security negotiations between the two sides.

“The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” Piggott said in a post on X.

As part of the extended diplomatic framework, Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume political negotiations at the US State Department on June 2–3. In parallel, military-level discussions between the two countries are expected to take place at the Pentagon on May 29, aimed at addressing urgent security concerns and reducing tensions on the ground.

Piggott described the latest round of indirect and direct engagements held in Washington on Thursday and Friday as “highly productive,” suggesting cautious optimism about progress despite continued violence in the region.

The negotiations come even as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah continue in southern Lebanon, raising concerns over the durability of the ceasefire arrangement. On Friday, Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least nine people and injured dozens more in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), as cited by Xinhua.

In response, Hezbollah claimed it had carried out multiple attacks targeting Israeli drones, military personnel, bulldozers and a Merkava tank in various locations across southern Lebanon. The exchange underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center has reported that Israeli military operations between March 2 and May 15 have resulted in 2,951 deaths and 8,988 injuries, highlighting the heavy human cost of the continuing conflict.

During the Washington talks, Israel was represented by its ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, along with senior security officials. Lebanon’s delegation included its ambassador Nada Hamadeh Mouawad and former ambassador to the US Simon Karam.

According to Israeli officials involved in the discussions, the broader objective of the negotiations is not only to maintain the ceasefire but also to work towards the disarmament of Hezbollah and explore the possibility of establishing formal diplomatic relations between Israel and Lebanon in the future.

Israel has reportedly insisted on retaining operational freedom to conduct air and ground strikes against Hezbollah positions until a comprehensive agreement is reached. Lebanon, however, has demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from its territory, an immediate halt to airstrikes, and an end to the destruction of border villages.

The current phase of conflict escalated on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel, which did not cause significant damage. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes followed by a ground offensive, triggering the latest cycle of violence that has now extended into months of sustained confrontation.

While the 45-day extension signals continued diplomatic engagement under US mediation, the situation on the ground remains tense, with both sides holding firm on key security and territorial demands.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)