Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire extended by 3 weeks, says Trump

Ceasefire Extended as US Mediates Israel-Lebanon Talks

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks, following a high-level meeting at the White House. The announcement came after Trump hosted Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad in the Oval Office for the second round of US-facilitated talks, according to multiple reports.

The ceasefire, initially set for 10 days, was due to expire on Sunday. Trump described the meeting as having gone "very well" and said he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future. He expressed hope that the leaders would meet during the three-week cessation of hostilities and said there was "a great chance" the two countries would reach a peace agreement this year, as reported by several outlets.

The talks were attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, according to reports from the White House and State Department.

Coverage Comparison: Conflicting Details on Extension Length and Negotiation Status

While most sources agree on the three-week extension announced by Trump on April 23, 2026, reports from the Jerusalem Post later suggested a different timeline. One article stated that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 45-day extension following negotiations at the State Department in mid-May, with further talks scheduled into June. Another report from the same outlet indicated that the third round of peace talks could be held as soon as the following week.

These discrepancies may reflect a rapidly evolving situation, with the initial three-week extension possibly being superseded by longer agreements as negotiations progressed. Some reports, including from the South China Morning Post, indicated that Lebanon was initially seeking a one-month extension, though the final agreement announced by Trump was for three weeks.

The Jerusalem Post also reported that both countries had agreed on a framework for negotiations, including "full recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity." This detail was not prominently featured in other coverage.

Key Claims and Positions

Hezbollah's Role and Disarmament

A central point of contention in the negotiations is the role of Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned armed group that has been fighting Israel. Trump stated that "The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah," according to reports from France 24 and other outlets. Hezbollah was not present at the talks and has stated it has "the right to resist" occupying forces.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of disarming Hezbollah, with the State Department specifying that "comprehensive peace is contingent on the full restoration of Lebanese state authority and the complete disarmament of Hezbollah," as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The US has also affirmed its recognition of the threat Hezbollah poses, stating that the group operates "without the consent or approval of the government of Lebanon."

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stated that Lebanon is "committed to ensuring that weapons are solely in the hands of the state, in accordance with the decisions of the Lebanese government," according to the Jerusalem Post. Salam also assured reporters that Lebanon was not heading towards normalization but towards peace with Israel, referencing previous negotiations facilitated by former US envoy Amos Hochstein.

Israeli Strikes and Lebanese Concerns

Al Jazeera reported that Israel has been accused of using the truce as cover to continue demolitions and entrench its occupation, while Hezbollah has responded with rockets. Additionally, France 24 reported that Israeli strikes killed at least five people, including a journalist, a day before the White House meeting. This claim was not prominently featured in other sources.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that during the meeting, Lebanon would request "to extend the ceasefire, which also includes a halt to the destruction of homes and attacks on civilians, places of worship, journalists and the medical and educational sectors," as reported by the South China Morning Post. A Lebanese official also said Beirut would push for an Israeli withdrawal, the return of Lebanese detainees in Israel, and a delineation of the land border in the next phase of negotiations, according to France 24.

Negotiation Framework and Next Steps

The US State Department announced that Israel and Lebanon would resume negotiations with two days of intensive talks on May 14 and 15, facilitated by the US, according to the Jerusalem Post. Discussions were expected to address border delineation, humanitarian relief and reconstruction, and "the full restoration of Lebanese sovereignty throughout its territory."

Further negotiations were later split into security and political tracks, with political talks set for June 2-3 and military delegations meeting at the Pentagon on May 29, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter described the talks as "frank and constructive" and said the negotiations had potential for "great success."

Perspectives

US Perspective

The Trump administration appears to be taking a proactive role in mediating between Israel and Lebanon, with Trump personally hosting the negotiating teams. The US has emphasized the need to disarm Hezbollah and restore Lebanese state authority, while also expressing optimism about the prospects for a peace agreement. The administration has framed its involvement as part of broader efforts to stabilize the region, though some reports note Trump is simultaneously dealing with tensions with Iran.

Israeli Perspective

Israeli officials, including Ambassador Leiter, have expressed support for the talks and confidence in their potential for success. Israel has called on Lebanon to "work together" against Hezbollah, framing the group as the primary obstacle to peace. The Jerusalem Post, reflecting Israeli perspectives, has emphasized the need to "defang and marginalize Hezbollah" as a central focus of the negotiations.

Lebanese Perspective

Lebanese officials have sought to extend the ceasefire to halt Israeli strikes and address concerns about demolitions and attacks on civilians. Prime Minister Salam has stressed that Lebanon is committed to state control of weapons but has also underscored that Lebanon is pursuing peace, not normalization, with Israel. The Lebanese delegation has also raised issues such as Israeli withdrawal, prisoner releases, and border delineation.

Hezbollah's Stance

Hezbollah was not present at the talks and has declared its "right to resist" Israeli forces. The group has been described as opposing the negotiations, and its disarmament remains a contentious issue. The US and Israel have both emphasized that Hezbollah operates without the consent of the Lebanese government, while Lebanon's commitment to state control of weapons is seen as a step toward addressing this concern.

This article was compiled from reports by Al Jazeera, France 24, the Jerusalem Post, the South China Morning Post, and The Hindu. Sources were cross-referenced for consistency, and discrepancies in reported details reflect the varying nature of official statements and evolving diplomatic developments as reported by these outlets.