US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, buying additional time for diplomacy to take hold in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives since hostilities resumed on 2 March.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu © Mena Today
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by three weeks, buying additional time for diplomacy to take hold in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives since hostilities resumed on 2 March.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the extension and raised the prospect of a historic meeting, stating that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon could be invited to the White House during the ceasefire period. The suggestion signals Washington's ambition to broker a durable political agreement between the two countries, not merely a pause in fighting.
Speaking to reporters, Trump also issued a pointed warning to Tehran, stating that Iran would have to cut its funding to Hezbollah. The demand underscores Washington's view that any lasting stability in Lebanon must include severing the financial and military lifeline that has sustained the Iran-backed militia for decades.
Writing by Tom Perry
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