Trump Announces Three-Week Ceasefire Extension Between Israel and Lebanon in White House Peace Talks

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks, according to statements made during a meeting at the White House with negotiators from both sides.

The extension was disclosed by Trump following discussions with Lebanese and Israeli representatives aimed at sustaining a temporary halt to hostilities that began in late November 2024. The original ceasefire, brokered with U.S. And French involvement, had been set to expire on January 26, 2025.

Trump said the agreement to prolong the ceasefire until mid-February reflects ongoing efforts to prevent a resurgence of violence along the Israel-Lebanon border, where exchanges of fire had occurred periodically since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.

The White House meeting included senior advisors and envoys involved in monitoring the ceasefire terms, which require Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and prohibit Hezbollah from operating south of the Litani River. The Lebanese military is responsible for maintaining security in the area under the agreement.

U.S. Officials have been engaged in regular consultations with both parties to assess compliance and address violations, including isolated incidents of cross-border fire that have occurred since the ceasefire took effect. The extension aims to provide additional time for diplomatic talks on a permanent resolution.

Neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s office nor the Lebanese Presidency issued immediate public statements confirming the extension, though both have previously acknowledged the ceasefire’s role in reducing regional tensions.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to monitor the Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon, and has reported periodic breaches by both sides, which are investigated through liaison channels established under the ceasefire framework.

Trump indicated that further discussions would be held in the coming weeks to determine whether the ceasefire can be extended beyond mid-February or transitioned into a more durable arrangement.

The development comes amid broader diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, including negotiations concerning Gaza and Red Sea security, though officials have stressed that the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire operates on a separate track.

No timeline has been set for a comprehensive peace agreement, and both governments have maintained that the current focus remains on preventing escalation rather than resolving underlying disputes.

The ceasefire extension will remain in effect unless either party formally withdraws from the agreement or reports a material breach that triggers a review mechanism outlined in the original understanding.