President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their current ceasefire by three weeks following talks at the White House between the two countries' ambassadors. The initial 10-day truce, which began last Friday, had been set to expire Monday. Trump described the discussions as productive, marking the second round of high-level negotiations in recent days.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the extension proposal also calls for ending Israeli home demolitions in occupied areas and sets the stage for broader negotiations. Future talks aim to fully halt Israeli attacks, secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, ensure the release of Lebanese prisoners, deploy Lebanese forces along the border and begin reconstruction efforts.

Israel has urged Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, describing the group as the main obstacle to peace. The latest conflict began after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel following Israeli and American strikes on Iran, prompting a large-scale Israeli bombardment and ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Israel now maintains a buffer zone up to 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory.

Although Hezbollah has rejected the direct talks, the negotiations represent a significant step for two countries that have officially been at war since 1948. The conflict has killed about 2,300 people in Lebanon and displaced more than one million, with alleged ceasefire violations and civilian casualties continuing to fuel tensions even as diplomatic efforts move forward.