Trump Says Israeli-Lebanese Ambassador Meeting Went ‘Very Well,’ Extending Ceasefire Set to Expire Monday

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 between Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad in the Oval Office, which Trump described as having gone “very well.”

Trump said the ceasefire, which was set to expire on Sunday, will now continue for an additional three weeks to allow more time to address ongoing tensions.

The goal of the extension is to end more than seven weeks of fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has intensified in recent months despite previous attempts at de-escalation.

During the Oval Office meeting, Trump noted that both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit the White House in the coming weeks to further discuss the situation.

Trump emphasized that the United States will work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah’s influence, stating that the U.S. Aims to assist in “getting things straightened out” in the country.

He also linked the Lebanon-Israel talks to broader regional efforts, saying he believes progress on the ceasefire could be achieved simultaneously with ongoing U.S. Initiatives regarding Iran.

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter praised Trump’s role in the talks, saying Israel and Lebanon are united in their goal to remove what he described as “this malign influence called Hezbollah” from Lebanon.

Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad also commended the U.S. President for facilitating the dialogue, echoing the sentiment that the meeting had been productive.

Despite the agreement, reports indicate that strikes have continued from both sides, with Hezbollah claiming it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to an alleged Israeli violation of the ceasefire, while the Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted the launches.

The ceasefire extension reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to reduce hostilities along Israel’s northern border and address the influence of Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon.

As of the announcement, no further details were provided about specific mechanisms for monitoring or enforcing the extended ceasefire, though both nations affirmed their commitment to de-escalation through diplomatic channels.