Israel, Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days, US State Dept says

The two countries would reconvene negotiations on Jun 2 and 3

Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Marjeyoun, Lebanon, May 15, 2026. REUTERS

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire US President Donald Trump declared on Apr 16, the US State Department said on Friday.

"The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said.

The State Department cast Israel-Lebanon talks - held in Washington on Thursday and Friday - as "highly productive" and said the countries would reconvene negotiations on Jun 2 and 3.

This week's talks were the sides' third meeting since Israel intensified air attacks on Lebanon after Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Mar 2, three days into the US-Israeli war on Iran. Israel had widened its ground invasion into Lebanon's south last month.

Fought in parallel to the US-Iran conflict, Israel's war in Lebanon has rumbled on since US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on Apr 16, though hostilities have largely been contained to southern Lebanon since then.