Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following meetings with both countries’ ambassadors in Washington on Thursday.
Israel and Lebanon Ceasefire Extended
Donald Trump announced on Thursday, April 23rd, that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon would be extended by three weeks. The information was released after a meeting with high-ranking representatives from Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office.
Both countries were represented by their ambassadors to the U.S.: Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Trump stated that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon also participated in the meeting.
Trump’s Statement and Future Meetings
“The U.S. will work with Lebanon to help it defend itself against Hezbollah. The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that he hopes to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future, potentially at the White House within the next three weeks.
First High-Level Talks in Decades
The first round of talks between Israel and Lebanon took place on April 14th in Washington, D.C., with the participation of both countries’ ambassadors to the U.S. These were the first direct talks between the two countries at such a high level since 1993. Israel and Lebanon do not maintain official diplomatic relations.
Recent Clashes and Accusations
On Thursday, April 23rd, it was reported that the pro-Iranian organization Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanese territory towards northern areas of Israel, claiming it was retaliation for alleged Israeli military shelling of a Lebanese town earlier that day.
The exchange of fire occurred despite the existing ceasefire, with both sides accusing each other of violating it. The Israel Defense Forces reported that Hezbollah fired four rockets towards Israel, all of which were intercepted. No injuries were reported.
Israeli Response to Hezbollah Attacks
The Israeli military also announced that it destroyed two Hezbollah rocket launchers and killed three of the group’s fighters who fired anti-aircraft missiles at an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. Hezbollah reportedly attacked Israeli soldiers in the area, lightly wounding one.
U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire and Long-Term Goals
On April 16th, the U.S. announced a 10-day ceasefire in the conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group outside the control of the Lebanese government, since early March. U.S. officials stated their goal is to achieve a lasting peace between the two countries. Israel primarily seeks the disarmament of Hezbollah.
