Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire for an additional 45 days following recent discussions in Washington, as confirmed by the U.S. State Department on Friday. The decision comes after productive talks spanning two days and sets the stage for further negotiations on June 2 and 3, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The ceasefire, which was on the brink of expiration, was between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
“We anticipate that these dialogues will contribute to promoting enduring peace between the two nations, mutual acknowledgment of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott conveyed via social media.
Despite the primary focus of the discussions being the extension of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, both parties have continued to engage in strikes. The Israeli military confirmed targeting Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon in response to reported hostile aircraft alerts and cross-border launches. Lebanon’s health ministry reported nearly 40 individuals sustaining injuries due to Israeli strikes near Tyre, a coastal city. One strike resulted in the destruction of a primary health center and inflicted damage on the adjacent Hiram Hospital, leading to injuries among six medical staff members.
The Israeli army disclosed that it eliminated Ahmed Ali Balout, a commander within Hezbollah’s Radwan force, in an airstrike on Beirut, resulting in four casualties as stated by Lebanese authorities. Despite the ceasefire agreement between the two nations, Israel has continued its operations in Lebanon, citing its focus on targeting Hezbollah.