Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire, following two days of talks in Washington DC, the US state department has said.
“The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” state department spokesman Tommy Spigott wrote on X.
“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.”
The Lebanese and Israeli delegations both released positive statements following their third round of talks, held after Israel stepped up airstrikes on Lebanon.
While US President Donald Trump announced a truce on April 16, Israel and Lebanon have continued to trade blows since then.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said air strikes had killed 22 people, including eight children, across the south.
Israel's Ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, described the talks as "frank and constructive".
"There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great. What will be paramount throughout negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers," Leiter wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s delegation said it wanted to turn the ceasefire into a permanent agreement for peace.
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
"The extension of the ceasefire and the establishment of a U.S.-facilitated security track provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability," the delegation said.
US-backed talks between Lebanon and Israel are taking place at the same time as efforts to resolve the wider US–Iran conflict.
Iran has said ending Israel’s war in Lebanon is one of its conditions for a deal in ending the wider conflict.
