US brokers 45-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days as the United States pushes forward with a broader diplomatic framework aimed at securing the volatile northern border and preventing renewed conflict with Hezbollah.

The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that both Israel and Lebanon had accepted a framework for negotiations that includes “full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border.”

The U.S., which hosted and facilitated the bilateral negotiations, said the talks would be divided into separate security and political tracks as Washington seeks to stabilize the border following renewed fighting earlier this year.

Lebanese and Israeli military officials are scheduled to meet at the U.S. Pentagon on May 29. Meanwhile, the political process is continuing, with a new round of diplomatic negotiations scheduled for June 2 and June 3.

Washington acknowledged that Hezbollah still poses a security threat against Israel but stressed that the Iranian-backed terrorist group operates “without the consent or approval of the government of Lebanon.” The U.S. added that all relevant parties are seeking a long-term solution to the conflict.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, who has represented Israel in the negotiations in Washington, wrote on 𝕏 on Friday that the talks were “frank and constructive.” He assessed that the discussions with the Lebanese government have potential for “great success.”

Meanwhile, Lebanese officials emphasized their commitment to reaching a deal that restores Lebanon’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. The Lebanese delegation has also called for an implementation mechanism to ensure that the Israeli government fulfills its obligations under the agreement.

However, Hezbollah, which is a key actor in Lebanon, is not part of the official negotiations in Washington.

Like its patron, the Iranian ayatollah regime, Hezbollah openly calls for the Jewish state’s destruction. Hezbollah launched an unprovoked attack against Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 people in southern Israeli border communities.

Israel responded by severely degrading Hezbollah’s military capabilities and eliminating most of the terror group’s top leadership, including its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024. Two months later, a severely weakened Hezbollah agreed to an American-brokered ceasefire. However, Hezbollah has refused to disarm as stipulated in the 2024 ceasefire agreement.

In early March 2026, Hezbollah launched a new attack on Israel following the elimination of top Iranian regime leaders, including the “supreme leader” Ali Khamenei.

Israel responded by launching aerial strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and dispatching forces into southern Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure near Israel’s northern border. Israel says its troop presence in southern Lebanon is aimed at preventing Hezbollah attacks on northern Israeli communities rather than establishing territorial control.

The Lebanese government, which opposes the war with Israel, decided in early March to outlaw Hezbollah’s military activities. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Hezbollah of dragging Lebanon into a war that is against Lebanon’s national interests.

“We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to apprehend the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people,” Salam wrote at the time in a post on 𝕏.

However, the Lebanese government has so far been unwilling or incapable of disarming Hezbollah and preventing the group from launching attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory, a central challenge facing the ongoing negotiations.