Lebanon and Israel Extend Ceasefire by 45 Days After U.S.-Hosted Talks

The United States hosted two days of talks between Lebanon and Israel on May 14 and 15. The discussions produced an extension of the current ceasefire by 45 days, according to Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the State Department. Military delegations from the two sides will hold talks on security at the Pentagon on May 29.

The State Department will also reconvene the political track of negotiations on June 2 and 3, Pigott said. "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," he wrote on X.

The ceasefire that began on April 16 will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The April 16 cessation of hostilities has been in place for nearly one month as of Saturday.

The talks did not include the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been conducting attacks on Israeli forces, and both sides have continued small-scale attacks on each other daily. Israel conducted a large strike in Beirut on May 7 targeting and killing an alleged Hezbollah leader.

At least a dozen people were killed in Lebanon on Tuesday from Israeli strikes, according to Reuters. Hezbollah has continued to launch drone attacks on Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon on a daily basis and posted videos of many on their social media accounts.

The extension comes amid a separate set of developments involving Iran. " Araghchi claimed victory in the war, saying the country must be viewed as a power capable of confronting the world's greatest powers.