US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire following high-level talks at the White House.
However, the truce remains fragile as Israel launched fresh strikes on southern Lebanon shortly after the announcement.
President Trump described the discussions between Israeli and Lebanese delegations as "very successful." He expressed optimism about future stability and stated his intention to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Michel Aoun for further negotiations soon.
"It was a great honor to be a participant at this historic meeting," Donald Trump posted, hailing the progress made toward a more lasting agreement.
Despite the diplomatic momentum in Washington, Israeli forces conducted strikes on the Lebanese towns of Touline and Khirbet Selm. Artillery shelling was also reported on the outskirts of Touline.
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, remarked in a televised interview that the ceasefire situation is "not 100 percent." He emphasized that Israeli forces would continue to retaliate against threats and questioning the Lebanese government’s ability to enforce sovereignty in the south.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s envoy to the talks and clarified that Israel holds no "irreconcilable disputes" with the Lebanese state but remains focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure. Israel maintains its right to defend itself against hostile forces and asserting that Lebanon has yet to fulfill its commitments to neutralize militant threats near the border.
The ongoing violence has raised concerns among international observers, as previous ceasefire periods have seen civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure despite official agreements.
