Talks hosted by the US State Department in Washington have successfully secured a 45-day extension to the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which was originally scheduled to expire this Sunday, CNN reported.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the breakthrough on Friday, characterizing the latest diplomatic round as “highly productive” and noting that the positive atmosphere “exceeded expectations.”
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A two-track diplomatic roadmap
The extension establishes a clear timeline for structured bilateral negotiations monitored by Washington. Military delegations from both countries will convene at the Pentagon on May 29 to discuss border security mechanisms.
Formal political negotiations are scheduled to resume on June 2 and June 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 stated in a post on X.
On May 14 and 15, the United States hosted two days of highly-productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress. The State Department will reconvene the political track of negotiations on June… pic.twitter.com/Dcs9NJDdN5
— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox)
May 15, 2026 Hezbollah signals openness
The Lebanese delegation welcomed the extension, stating it would provide “critical breathing space” for citizens and reinforce state institutions. An official source revealed that Hezbollah has indirectly informed US President Donald Trump that the group is prepared for a direct ceasefire, provided the Israeli government agrees to the terms.
Despite the diplomatic optimism, the situation on the ground remains volatile. The previous truce period was marred by routine violations, including a recent Hezbollah explosive drone strike in northern Israel that severely wounded a reserve soldier, and retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and outside Beirut that killed nine people.
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US President Donald Trump said he discussed the war in Ukraine with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit in Beijing. Trump claimed he still believed a settlement would happen despite Russia launching major overnight assaults on Ukraine shortly before the talks, saying, “it’s going to happen, but it’s a shame.”
