US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, following recent talks between envoys from both countries in Washington.
Ceasefire Extension and Diplomatic Efforts
The extension, shared by President Trump on Truth Social, comes after a meeting described as having “went very well.” Trump stated that the United States would collaborate with Lebanon to help it safeguard itself from Hezbollah. The initial ceasefire, established last week after a meeting in Washington, was scheduled to conclude on Sunday. Its primary objective is to bring an end to over seven weeks of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
President Trump also revealed that both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit the White House “in the coming weeks.” He emphasized the ongoing concern regarding Hezbollah, stating, “We are going to be working with Lebanon to get things straightened out in that country.” Trump expressed optimism, adding, “I think it will be a wonderful thing to get this worked out simultaneously with what we are doing in Iran.”
During their Oval Office meeting with President Trump, Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter commended Trump’s pivotal role in facilitating the discussions. Ambassador Leiter highlighted a shared objective between Israel and Lebanon: to free Lebanon from what he termed “this malign influence called Hezbollah.”
Allegations of Ceasefire Violations and Escalation
Despite the diplomatic efforts, both Hezbollah and Israel have accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement. On Thursday evening, as the Washington talks were commencing, Hezbollah claimed to have launched rockets at northern Israel in response to an alleged Israeli “violation of the ceasefire.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported intercepting these launches.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, Lebanon accused Israel of war crimes after Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed one journalist and wounded another. The IDF denied intentionally targeting journalists. Ahead of Thursday’s discussions, Israel stated it had no “serious disagreements” with Lebanon and urged joint efforts against Hezbollah.
Last week’s meeting in Washington marked a significant development, representing the first direct, high-level contact between Lebanese and Israeli envoys in three decades.
Background of the Conflict
A previous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed upon in November 2024, which was subsequently followed by near-daily Israeli attacks on targets and individuals reportedly linked to Hezbollah.
The current escalation saw a significant turn on February 28, when the US and Israel conducted attacks in Iran, resulting in the death of Iran’s supreme leader. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel on March 2. This led to Israeli bombardments of Lebanon, primarily in the south and Beirut. IDF troops re-entered southern Lebanon in early March and have since occupied 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of Lebanese territory.
Humanitarian Impact and Hezbollah’s Role
The Lebanese health ministry reports that at least 2,294 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the latest conflict began. These figures include 274 women and 177 children, though they do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israeli authorities state that Hezbollah attacks have resulted in the deaths of two civilians in Israel, while 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat in Lebanon.
UN figures indicate that over one million people across Lebanon, approximately one-fifth of the population, have been displaced by the recent fighting. The majority of these displacements are from the southern regions, where Israeli actions have destroyed homes and villages.
Hezbollah is identified as a Shia Muslim militia and political party within Lebanon. The US, Israel, and many Lebanese citizens have called for its disarmament. However, Hezbollah has consistently refused to discuss the future of its weaponry. Lebanese President Aoun has cautioned that disarmament cannot be achieved by force, warning of potential violence, and suggesting that it would necessitate negotiations with the group. Supporters of Hezbollah view it as their sole protection in a vulnerable state.
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