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Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended, says US State Department

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by Sarah Davis - 05/15/26 4:17 PM ET

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by Sarah Davis - 05/15/26 4:17 PM ET

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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension to a temporary ceasefire agreement between the two countries amid the Iran war, according to the State Department.

Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced in a statement on Friday afternoon that U.S. officials hosted “highly-productive” talks between diplomats from each nation on Thursday and Friday to renew this halt in fighting.

The initial 10-day agreement, which began on April 16, was previously extended to Thursday. The two countries agreed to halt fighting during the ceasefire period between the U.S. and Iran. Israel is allied with the U.S., and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah supports Iran in this conflict.

Pigott said the State Department will “reconvene” from June 2-3 to continue negotiations.

Additionally, the spokesperson said the Pentagon will host a security track with military delegations from Iran and Lebanon starting on May 29.

“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott said.

Despite a pledge to halt fighting last month, Lebanese and Iranian officials have alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement from Hezbollah. The Iran-backed militant group has not engaged in negotiations with Israel and Lebanon, and it has vocalized its opposition to the ceasefire agreement.

Israel’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that a missile launched by Hezbollah severely injured two people in the country. The country has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon, killing 22 people in Wednesday strikes in the country, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

“The United States remains cognizant of the challenges posed by Hizballah’s continued attacks on Israel, without the consent or approval of the Government of Lebanon, undertaken in order to derail this process,” Pigott said in the Friday statement.

“The United States welcomes the commitment of both governments to finding a long-term solution despite these ongoing challenges,” he continued. “The United States will continue to support both countries as they move forward on these two tracks.”

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