Trump Announces Extension of Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire for Three Weeks Amid Regional Tensions

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks following talks at the White House.

The extension comes after a meeting in the Oval Office where Trump hosted Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, along with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump stated that the agreement follows discussions aimed at building on an initial 10-day ceasefire that was established the previous week, with the goal of creating a more durable pause in hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The announcement was made amid ongoing regional tensions, including recent exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

U.S. Officials involved in the talks emphasized the diplomatic significance of the engagement, noting that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon remain rare due to the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was present at the White House meeting and participated in the discussions, which were described as part of broader U.S. Efforts to manage escalations in the region.

The extension of the ceasefire is intended to provide a window for continued diplomatic engagement and to reduce the risk of further violence while broader regional issues, including U.S.-Iran tensions, remain under review.