By Blessing Nweke
US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following fresh negotiations in Washington, offering a temporary reprieve from weeks of escalating violence.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said the discussions “went very well” and emphasized that the United States would continue working with Lebanon to strengthen its security against Hezbollah. The ceasefire, originally set to expire on Sunday, aims to halt more than seven weeks of fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Speaking at the White House, Trump added that Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks for further talks. “We are going to be working with Lebanon to get things straightened out,” Trump said, while linking broader regional diplomacy to ongoing tensions with Iran.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys also praised the negotiations. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said both sides shared a goal of eliminating Hezbollah’s influence, while Lebanese officials stressed the importance of stability.
Despite diplomatic progress, hostilities persist. Hezbollah claimed it fired rockets into northern Israel in response to alleged ceasefire violations, while the Israel Defense Forces reported intercepting the projectiles. Lebanon has also accused Israel of war crimes following airstrikes that killed a journalist, an allegation denied by Israeli authorities.
The current conflict intensified after a February escalation involving Iran, triggering cross-border attacks and Israeli ground operations in southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese officials, more than 2,200 people have been killed, while over one million residents have been displaced.
Efforts to disarm Hezbollah remain a key sticking point, with President Aoun warning that any resolution must come through negotiation rather than force.
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