US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks lead to 45-day ceasefire extension

The negotiations are unfolding alongside broader diplomatic efforts tied to the conflict involving Iran. Tehran has said that ending Israel's military campaign in Lebanon remains one of its conditions for a wider agreement related to the regional conflict.

In Short

• Talks in Washington will continue with more meetings scheduled soon
• Hezbollah opposed Lebanon joining the negotiations, while Beirut sought calm
• Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon, where clashes persisted after truce

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire for another 45 days following two days of talks facilitated by the United States in Washington. The negotiations ended with both sides committing to hold further meetings in the coming weeks as efforts continue to prevent renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border. Lebanon joined the discussions despite objections from Hezbollah, while Israel continued to push for the group’s disarmament as part of any long-term settlement.

The ceasefire, which was due to expire on Sunday, was first announced last month by US President Donald Trump after initial talks between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington. The agreement helped reduce hostilities that intensified after Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel on March 2, three days into the US-Israeli war with Iran. Israel responded with a large-scale bombing campaign and ground operations in southern Lebanon, displacing nearly 1.2 million people.

Even after the truce came into effect, clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continued, largely concentrated in southern Lebanon where Israeli troops remain stationed in what they describe as a security zone.

Announcing the latest extension, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on X: “The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress.” He described the negotiations as “highly productive” and said Washington hopes the discussions will help create “lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border.”

The negotiations are unfolding alongside broader diplomatic efforts tied to the conflict involving Iran. Tehran has said that ending Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon remains one of its conditions for a wider agreement related to the regional conflict.

Lebanon’s delegation entered the talks with a focus on ending hostilities. Hezbollah, however, opposed Lebanon’s participation in the negotiations. Israel has maintained that Hezbollah must be disarmed for any broader peace arrangement to succeed.

The latest round of meetings marked one of the highest-level direct engagements between Lebanon and Israel in decades and included military and security officials from both sides. According to Pigott, a new “security track” of negotiations will begin at the Pentagon on May 29, while the State Department is scheduled to host another political round of talks on June 2 and 3.

In a statement issued after the meetings, Lebanon’s delegation said it hoped to transform the ceasefire into a more permanent agreement. “The extension of the ceasefire and the establishment of a US-facilitated security track provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability,” the statement said.

Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter also described the discussions positively, calling them “frank and constructive.”

“There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers,” Leiter said on X.

- Ends
With inputs from Reuters