Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of their ceasefire following two productive days of talks in Washington. The truce, which was originally declared by US President Donald Trump on April 16, had been set to expire this Sunday.
Although the ceasefire has reduced the volume of fighting, the truce remains shaky. Violations are commonplace, particularly in the south, where at least 37 people were wounded by Israeli strikes while the Washington-hosted peace talks were ongoing.
The US State Department announced that further negotiations to reach a permanent political agreement will be held on June 2 and 3. Ahead of these talks, the Pentagon is scheduled to bring together military delegations from the concerned countries on May 29.
The Lebanese negotiating delegation stated that the extension would reinforce state institutions and provide critical breathing space for citizens. The Trump administration is attempting to tamp down the conflict as part of a broader effort to address the war against Iran.