Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days following the conclusion of talks in Washington

Israel and Lebanon on Friday agreed to extend their ceasefire for another 45 days, following two days of US-mediated talks in Washington aimed at easing tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The parties also agreed to continue negotiations in the coming weeks.

US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced on X that the cessation of hostilities, originally due to expire on Sunday, would now remain in effect until April 16 “to enable further progress.” He described the discussions as “highly productive.”

The latest round marked the third meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives since Israel sharply escalated air strikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel on March 2, shortly after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Israel’s military campaign and ground offensive in southern Lebanon displaced around 1.2 million people before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire last month following preliminary talks between the two countries’ ambassadors in Washington.

Despite the truce, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have continued exchanging fire, mainly in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops maintain a self-declared security zone.

Lebanon seeks an end to hostilities

The US-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are taking place alongside broader diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran conflict. Tehran has reportedly linked any wider agreement to an end to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s delegation, attending the talks despite opposition from Hezbollah, has focused on securing a complete halt to hostilities. Israel, meanwhile, insists Hezbollah must be disarmed as part of any long-term settlement.

The Washington meetings — the highest-level engagement between Lebanon and Israel in decades — now include security and military officials. Pigott said a new “security track” of negotiations would begin at the Pentagon on May 29, while a separate political track will resume at the State Department on June 2-3.

“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 said.

In a statement, Lebanon’s delegation said it hoped to build on the ceasefire momentum toward a permanent peace deal.

“The extension of the ceasefire and the establishment of a US-facilitated security track provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability,” the statement said.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter described the talks as “frank and constructive.”

“There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers,” he wrote on X.