Porous ceasefire extended for 45-days after third round of Israel-Lebanon talks

US says two days of talks ‘highly productive,’ while Israeli envoy says ‘potential for success is great,’ even as Hezbollah clashes with troops, fires rockets and drones at north

The United States on Friday announced a 45-day extension of a porous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, even as the Iran-backed terror group continued to clash with IDF soldiers and launch missiles and drones into Israeli territory.

The announcement came after Israel and Lebanon wrapped up a third round of negotiations in Washington, which was described by State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott as “highly productive,” adding that the truce extension will “enable further progress.”

The third round, which lasted two days, included military officials from both sides for the first time, with Israel’s acting defense attaché to the US Brig. Gen. Arik Ben Dov, and head of the IDF’s Strategic Division Brig. Gen. Amichai Levin representing Israel.

The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3, Pigott said.

In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries.

“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott said.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said the talks were “frank and constructive.”

“I’m looking forward to the next steps,” he posted on X. “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.”

The Lebanese delegation welcomed the extension of the ceasefire and touted the establishment of separate military and political tracks that will meet separately in the coming weeks at the State Department and Pentagon.

“Lebanon will continue to engage constructively in negotiations while safeguarding its sovereignty and protecting the safety of its people,” the statement from the Lebanese delegation said.

It added that the pillars of Beirut’s position are restoration of its sovereignty, return of the displaced, reconstruction, release of detainees, recovery of remains, and the establishment of an independent verification mechanism.

“Lebanon is negotiating for a future in which its borders are respected, its sovereignty is upheld solely by its Lebanese Armed Forces, and its people can live in lasting peace and security,” the statement added.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country has had enough “reckless” wars for foreign interests, calling for Arab and international support in Beirut’s negotiations with Israel, in a reference to Hezbollah launching two wars in support of Iran.

Speaking at an NGO dinner, Salam said that he hoped to “mobilize all Arab and international support to bolster our position in the negotiations” with Israel, shortly after the truce extension.

The ceasefire has been in place since April 16, but the US has allowed Jerusalem to continue targeting Hezbollah operatives deemed a threat. Accordingly, attacks have continued on a daily basis, including while the third round of negotiations was held on Thursday and Friday.

Hezbollah has targeted Israeli forces who have created a deep buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which Jerusalem says is designed to prevent Hezbollah attacks on communities across the border.

However, the ceasefire has largely held in Beirut and other areas further away from the border following US pressure on Israel.

Lebanon, whose government has committed to disarming Hezbollah, is demanding a halt to Israel’s strikes and full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel, which accuses Beirut of failing to disarm Hezbollah, demands that the terror group give up its weapons. Hezbollah itself has rejected the direct talks and insisted its weapons are not up for discussion.

Throughout Friday, the Iran-backed terror group launched drones from Lebanon at northern Israel.

The military said impacts were identified in Kiryat Shmona and Metula, while others struck open areas, with no injuries caused.

Some were also intercepted by air defenses, according to the IDF.

Hezbollah also launched several drones, rockets, and mortars at Israeli troops in southern Lebanon today, the military said.

The IDF said that several drones were intercepted. No further details are immediately given.

In another incident, Hezbollah attempted to shoot down an Israeli Air Force drone over southern Lebanon. The IDF said the surface-to-air missile “failed.”

Additionally, following Thursday’s Hezbollah drone attack on the Rosh Hanikra area, which wounded four civilians, the chief of the Northern Command declared the nearby coast a closed military zone.

The order, signed by Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo covers the entire coastline from Rosh Hanikra to the Achziv area, and it is valid until the end of the month.

Israeli strikes injure at least 37 people in Tyre after evacuation warnings

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on the Tyre district wounded at least 37 people, including six hospital personnel, nine women, and four children on Friday.

The IDF said earlier it launched airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the Tyre area, following evacuation warnings.

United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza condemned the “unacceptable” toll from continued attacks, saying that “diplomatic efforts now offer a critical opportunity to stop the violence.”

An AFP correspondent reported a series of strikes, two of them near the city of Tyre, while state media said another targeted a centre run by a local NGO near a hospital.

Hafez Ramadan, a resident near the building targeted by the airstrike, said it had housed people who had fled their towns due to the war, and was adjacent to a hotel where more displaced people were staying.

“There are only women, children, and the elderly here,” he claimed. “Because of this strike, people have been displaced again.”

Separately, the IDF said it destroyed a Hezbollah rocket launcher used to fire a barrage at Kiryat Shmona on Thursday night.

Overnight, the launcher in the town of Zebdine was struck and destroyed, alongside several buildings that the IDF says were used by Hezbollah for military purposes.

The rockets launched at Kiryat Shmona were intercepted or hit open areas, with no injuries caused.

Nineteen IDF soldiers and one Defense Ministry civilian contractor have been killed in southern Lebanon amid fighting against Hezbollah. Two civilians were also killed by Hezbollah rockets, and an Israeli civilian was mistakenly killed in the north by Israeli artillery shelling.

In Lebanon, the Israeli military has said that it has killed over 2,000 Hezbollah operatives, including hundreds of members of the terror group’s elite Radwan Force, since hostilities escalated amid the war with Iran.

More than 5,000 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon have also been struck, including hundreds of command centers, weapon depots, and rocket and missile launchers, according to the IDF.

During the fighting in Lebanon, which began on March 2, Hezbollah fired some 5,500 rockets at IDF troops operating in the south of the country, as well as around 2,500 at Israel, according to the military. There were at least 75 rocket impact sites in Israel.

In addition, Hezbollah launched around 300 drones, of which 25 struck Israel, according to the IDF.

The IDF believes Hezbollah still possesses thousands of short-range rockets, along with hundreds of longer-range projectiles. The IDF has said that Hezbollah is launching most of its attacks from deeper within southern Lebanon, north of the Litani River, and not from areas close to the border.