Washington, United States. Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire President Donald Trump declared on April 16, the US State Department said on Friday. The extension is intended to allow further progress, according to the department.
Ceasefire extension and next talks
“The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said. The State Department described Israel-Lebanon talks held in Washington on Thursday and Friday as “highly productive” and said the countries would reconvene negotiations on June 2 and June 3.
Context of the negotiations
The talks this week were the sides’ third meeting since Israel intensified air attacks on Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on March 2, three days into the US-Israeli war on Iran. Israel widened its ground invasion into Lebanon’s south last month.
Developments since April 16
Fought in parallel to the US-Iran conflict, Israel’s war in Lebanon has continued since Trump declared a ceasefire on April 16, though hostilities have largely been contained to southern Lebanon since then.
What do you expect from the June 2 and June 3 negotiations in Washington?
