According to Reuters, U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday, April 23 that following talks at the White House with senior U.S. officials, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire agreement by three weeks, providing more diplomatic breathing room amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“The meeting went very smoothly,” Trump wrote the same day on the Truth Social platform. He added that the United States will work with Lebanon to help strengthen its defensive capabilities against the threat posed by Hezbollah. He noted that the group is an Iran-backed armed force and a key factor contributing to current regional tensions.
The temporary ceasefire was originally set to last 10 days. Trump said the extension would help prevent renewed escalation once the truce expires and create space for both sides to continue resolving differences through diplomatic channels.
“Senior representatives” from Israel and Lebanon met that day in the Oval Office with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
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In response to reporters’ questions, Trump reiterated that in any agreement with Iran to end the war, Washington will require Tehran to halt its support for proxy groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah. “They must stop that. It’s essential,” he said.
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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who attended the meeting, described the situation by saying Israel and Lebanon are “like neighbors” who could live in peace, but there is a persistent factor driving conflict. He compared Hezbollah to “a child constantly throwing rocks at a neighbor’s window,” adding that if such behavior stops, relations between the two sides could improve and even lead to cooperation.
During remarks at the White House, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said Israel and Lebanon have “never been closer than they are today,” and expressed gratitude for the efforts of Trump and Vance. He called the progress the result of decades of work and said efforts to advance the peace process will continue.
Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad also thanked Trump at the meeting, calling it a “historic moment.” She said that with U.S. support, Lebanon has hope of achieving stability and development.
