The BRICS TimesIsrael and Lebanon agree to extend their fragile truce by three weeks following high-level Oval Office negotiations led by Trump, Vance, and Rubio, as the US pledges to help Lebanon protect itself from Hezbollah.
White House Hosts Second Round of Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to push their ceasefire forward by three more weeks. The decision came after a high-level meeting at the White House between the ambassadors of both nations. Trump described the Oval Office talks as going “very well.” This was the second round of negotiations between the two sides since last week.
The original 10-day ceasefire had taken effect on April 16. It was originally set to expire on Monday. The extension request came from the Lebanese side, signalling Beirut’s intent to keep the fragile truce alive.
Trump Posts on Truth Social, Announces Key Plans
“The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS. I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He also confirmed that the United States would actively support Lebanon going forward. “The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote, referring to the Iran-backed militant group.
Senior US Officials Join the Oval Office Meeting
The meeting brought together a powerful lineup of American leadership. Alongside Trump, the US delegation included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counsellor Michael Needham, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
Lebanon was represented by its Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, also attended. “We hope that together, under your leadership, we can formalize peace between Israel and Lebanon in the very near future,” Leiter said during the Oval Office session.
Lebanon Tables Broader Demands for Future Talks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had outlined on Wednesday what his side would raise at the talks. Ambassador Hamadeh was tasked with pushing for a ceasefire extension and demanding a halt to Israeli demolition activities in villages and towns in southern Lebanon currently occupied by Israeli forces.
Aoun has laid out a broader roadmap for future negotiations. The goals include a full stop to Israeli strikes, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, deployment of Lebanese army troops along the border, and the launch of reconstruction efforts.
Ceasefire Violations and Ongoing Tensions
Despite the truce, the situation on the ground remains tense. Multiple violations have taken place on both sides since the ceasefire first went into effect. Shortly before Thursday’s Oval Office meeting began, Hezbollah fired several rockets at Israeli villages near the border. The Israeli military responded with airstrikes targeting rocket launchers.
Israeli forces are currently holding a buffer zone stretching up to 10 kilometres into southern Lebanon. Israel says the occupation is necessary to remove the threat of short-range rockets and anti-tank missiles aimed at northern Israel.
Journalist Killed Amid Ceasefire Period
The fragile truce has not stopped casualties. On Wednesday, well-known Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in an Israeli airstrike. At least eight journalists have now been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the start of the conflict, according to media freedom watchdogs.
Wider Regional Picture: Iran Dismisses Ceasefire Extension
Thursday’s ceasefire announcement came just two days after Trump extended a separate truce with Iran. Iran quickly dismissed that extension as meaningless. Tehran also rejected US and Israeli arguments that the US-Iran ceasefire does not cover Israeli operations against Hezbollah inside Lebanon.
Washington and Tel Aviv maintain that Israel’s actions against Hezbollah fall under separate peace negotiations with the Lebanese government. Iran continues to push for a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon as part of any broader ceasefire arrangement.
