Israel and Lebanon extend 45-day ceasefire as talks resume in Washington
Israel and Lebanon extend 45-day ceasefire as talks resume in Washington
After productive talks in Washington, Israel and Lebanon extend their ceasefire for 45 days as US mediators push for lasting peace and renewed negotiations.
After two days of talks in Washington, the United States said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their 45-day ceasefire as negotiators push for a lasting settlement along their shared border. The extension follows a broader push by U.S. mediators to restart the political track in June and to launch a security track at the Pentagon on May 29, with military delegations from both sides.
Lebanon's health ministry reported heavy fighting in the south, including an Israeli air strike that killed six people, among them three paramedics. A fourth paramedic was reported to be in critical condition after an attack on a civil defence centre in Harouf. The ministry also said that overall deaths in the south rose to 22, including eight children, amid ongoing exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
Officials on both sides described the talks as frank and constructive, while Lebanon's prime minister Nawaf Salam urged support from Arab and international partners to bolster the negotiations. Israel's ambassador to the United States said the discussions were productive, even as fighting continued near the border.
Israel has intensified air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon, arguing the targets are Hezbollah fighters and related infrastructure. The ceasefire extension aims to calm the front line while negotiators hope to rebuild enough trust to stabilize the border and prevent a wider escalation.
With the security and political tracks planned, diplomacy remains fragile, but officials say the latest extension offers a window to advance a durable pause and re-open channels for sovereignty and security along the border.
