US announces 45-day extension of porous Lebanon ceasefire after 3rd round of Beirut-J’lem talks

The US announces a 45-day extension of a porous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The announcement from the US State Department comes after Israel and Lebanon wrapped up a third round of negotiations in Washington.

The ceasefire has been in place since April 16, but the US has allowed Jerusalem to continue targeting Hezbollah operatives deemed a threat. Accordingly, attacks have continued on a daily basis, including while the third round of negotiations was held on Thursday and Friday.

Hezbollah has targeted Israeli forces who have created a massive buffer zone in southern Lebanon, which Jerusalem says is designed to prevent Hezbollah attacks on communities across the border.

In its statement announcing the ceasefire extension, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott calls the last two days of talks “highly productive,” adding that the truce extension will “enable further progress.”

The third round includes military officials from both sides for the first time, with Israel’s acting defense attaché to the US Brig. Gen. Arik Ben Dov and head of the IDF’s Strategic Division Brig. Gen. Amichai Levin representing Israel.

The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and June 3, he says.

In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries.

“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott says.