President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon on Thursday.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa all met with “High Ranking Representatives of Israel and Lebanon” in the Oval Office in a meeting that went “very well!”
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The meeting resulted in an increased pledge of U.S. involvement in Lebanon and the extension of the ceasefire by 21 days.
“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump said. “The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS. I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!”
Trump addressed the ceasefire to reporters in the Oval Office shortly after his announcement, surrounded by the officials at the meeting. Issa stressed the historic nature of the meeting itself, as Israel and Lebanon had long refused direct talks with each other.
“This is 60, 70 years in the making, and today is really a historical day,” he said.
Hezbollah joined the U.S.-Israel war with Iran just days in with a missile barrage, ending the fragile ceasefire that had largely held back combat operations in Lebanon since November 2024. The damage to the group from the previous war was evident, with Hezbollah fighters failing to inflict any serious casualties against the Israeli military.
Viewing the war as its best opportunity to finish off its Lebanese enemy once and for all, Israel has shifted its focus to Lebanon since the ceasefire with Iran was announced earlier this month. Shortly after the ceasefire was announced, Israel launched its greatest waves of attacks against Hezbollah, then intensified its ground operations.
Despite his preference for a decisive final blow against Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on April 9 that Jerusalem would begin direct negotiations with the Lebanese government.
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“The negotiations will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the establishing of peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. Israel appreciates the call made today by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarize Beirut,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office at the time said.
The first ceasefire in Lebanon was announced last week. Although Hezbollah didn’t take part in the negotiations, it appears to have largely abided by the ceasefire so far.
