Shaky truce between Israel and Lebanon extended for 45 days, US says | Israel
The US State Department said that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the ceasefire for 45 days after a new round of negotiations in Washington.
Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said this came after two “productive” days of talks and new talks would take place between 2-3 June.
The shaky ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group was set to end on Sunday.
“We hope that these discussions will advance lasting peace between our two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of genuine security along their common borders,” Pigott said on social media.
Israel is striking Lebanon and occupying its south in response to fire from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite movement that is not part of the ceasefire diplomacy.
As talks ended in Washington, the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for the southern city of Tire, which it said had hit Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
An AFP correspondent reported a series of attacks, including two near Tire, while state media reported that another attack targeted a center run by a local NGO near the hospital.
The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon after reporting hostile aircraft alerts and launches from across the border.
Lebanon’s health ministry said that at least 37 people, including six hospital staff, nine women and four children, were injured in the attacks in the Tire region.
One attack “destroyed” the primary care center and damaged the neighboring Hiram hospital, injuring six medical staff, the statement said.
The United States staunchly supports Israel, which attacked Iran on February 28, but has also politely expressed its discomfort with Israeli troops controlling southern Lebanon.
“We hope that these talks will advance lasting peace between our two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of genuine security along our common borders,” Pigott said.
Israel’s Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, who headed his country’s delegation, said after the talks that ensuring Israel’s security would be critical.
Leiter wrote of X: “There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great.”
The religious state of Iran, which is a patron of Hezbollah, has demanded a permanent ceasefire in Lebanon before any peace deal can be struck with US President Donald Trump, disappointed by Tehran’s refusal to reach a deal on its terms.
On Friday night, Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam called for Arab and international support in Beirut’s negotiations with Israel.
Speaking at an NGO dinner, Salam said he hoped to “mobilize all Arab and international support to strengthen our position in the negotiations” with Israel.
In a veiled rebuke of Hezbollah, which has joined the Middle East war to support Iran, Salam said his country was “tired of these reckless adventures that serve foreign projects or interests” and that the Lebanese army should be the sole armed force in the country.
Additional reporting from Agence France-Presse
