Lebanese President Joseph Aoun participates in a press conference at Baabda, Lebanon, on February 16. Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Lebanese negotiators are aiming to extend a delicate ceasefire with Israel for at least an additional month as part of efforts to resolve the conflict with Hezbollah, as per a political source familiar with the situation.
“Lebanon will seek to extend the ceasefire by one month or longer,” the source informed Xenix News on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the White House will hold a second round of discussions with the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US, Nada Hamadeh and Yechiel Leiter, respectively.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun urged for “a total cessation of the Israeli assaults.” Aoun posted on X that negotiators are concentrating on “securing the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanese lands” and “initiating reconstruction” in Lebanon.
Aoun expressed gratitude to his US counterpart, President Donald Trump, for “an opportunity that should not be squandered.” On Friday, Trump stated he had “banned” Israel from initiating new attacks, cautioning “Enough is enough!!!” in a social media message.
The Israeli operation in Lebanon followed Hezbollah, an Iran-supported group, firing missiles into Israel, resulting in at least 2,294 fatalities, according to Lebanese health authorities.
In the south, the Israeli military has taken control of a strip of border villages and instructed residents “not to cross and go back to” their homes below the Litani River, which divides Lebanon.
UN experts have criticized Israel’s actions, stating “the intentional demolition of homes serves as a weapon of war and a type of collective punishment.”
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