The US State Department said on 15 May that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 45-day truce extension to “ensure further progress” and announced further US-brokered talks later this month and in June.
“We hope these discussions will promote lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of genuine security along their shared border,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott wrote on social media X.
Pigott said a new round of political consultations will take place on 2-3 June, while security talks with Israeli and Lebanese military delegations will start at the Pentagon on 29 May.
Israel began striking Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon on 2 March, two days after the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began when Hezbollah forces opened fire in support of Tehran.
“Hezbollah is a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. The United States considers it a terrorist organisation, while the European Union has blacklisted only its armed wing.
A truce in place since 17 April reduced the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah but did not stop it. Hundreds of people have been killed in strikes since then, and each side accuses the other of numerous violations.