U.S. Announces 45-Day Extension of Lebanon Ceasefire as Hezbollah Fighting Continues Along Israel’s Northern Border

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – The United States announced Friday evening that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by 45 days, even as heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continues along Israel’s volatile northern border.

The State Department said the extension is intended “to enable further progress” after a fourth round of talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington. Additional diplomatic negotiations are scheduled for June 2 and June 3, while a separate security track involving Israeli and Lebanese military delegations is set to begin at the Pentagon 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,” the State Department said.

The announcement marks another U.S.-brokered attempt to keep the ceasefire framework alive, despite the reality on the ground: Hezbollah continues launching drones and mortars, Israel continues targeting terror infrastructure, and northern Israeli communities remain under threat.

Ceasefire Extended, But Not Quiet

The ceasefire extension came as the Israel Defense Forces reported continued attacks from Lebanon, including Hezbollah drone launches, mortar fire, and an attempted strike on Israeli aircraft using a small surface-to-air missile.

On Friday evening, sirens sounded in several western Galilee communities, including Nahariya, after drones infiltrated Israeli airspace from Lebanon. The IDF said one drone was intercepted while others exploded in open areas. Fire and Rescue Services reported that one drone caused a blaze in agricultural fields near Rosh Hanikra, which firefighters brought under control.

About an hour later, sirens sounded again in and around Kiryat Shmona amid fears of additional drone infiltrations. The IDF later said impacts were identified near Metula and Kiryat Shmona, while the remaining drones were intercepted. No injuries were reported.

Earlier Friday, the IDF announced that Staff Sgt. Negev Dagan was killed Thursday in southern Lebanon after being hit by a mortar shell fired at Israeli troops operating near the Litani River.

The Israeli Air Force also intercepted Hezbollah explosive drones launched toward areas where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah Rejects Direct Talks

Hezbollah, which is not part of the official negotiations in Washington, has not committed to honoring the extended ceasefire.

A Hezbollah command source quoted by Qatar’s Al-Araby channel said the group would examine any agreement based on “the facts” on the ground. Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen, affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that the organization rejects direct negotiations in Washington and will determine its position based on battlefield realities.

The report said Hezbollah views Israel as failing to honor any agreement and considers its claimed “right to resist” in southern Lebanon non-negotiable.

That position underscores the central problem facing U.S. diplomacy: Lebanon’s government may be engaged in talks, but Hezbollah remains heavily armed, backed by Iran, and capable of dragging the country into renewed war.

Washington Pursues Two-Track Framework

The U.S.-led talks are now moving along two tracks: a political track aimed at a broader diplomatic understanding between Israel and Lebanon, and a security track focused on preventing Hezbollah from reestablishing terror infrastructure along the border.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who has represented Israel in the Washington talks, described the discussions as “frank and constructive” and said they carry the potential for “great success.”

Lebanese officials, meanwhile, have said they are seeking an agreement that restores Lebanon’s sovereignty and protects Lebanese civilians. The Lebanese delegation has also called for an implementation mechanism to ensure Israel fulfills its obligations under any agreement.

But implementation remains the great challenge. Hezbollah has refused to disarm despite earlier ceasefire terms, and Lebanon’s government has so far been either unwilling or unable to prevent the terror group from launching attacks from Lebanese territory.

Lebanon’s Sovereignty Tested by Hezbollah

Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 people in southern Israel. Israel responded over the following months by severely degrading Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and eliminating much of its top leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024.

A weakened Hezbollah later accepted an American-brokered ceasefire, but the group has continued to resist disarmament and has repeatedly challenged the agreement.

In March 2026, Hezbollah renewed attacks on Israel following the elimination of top Iranian regime leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah targets and ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure near Israeli border communities.

Israel says its presence in southern Lebanon is defensive and intended to prevent Hezbollah from again threatening northern Israeli towns, not to establish territorial control.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has publicly opposed Hezbollah’s military escalation, accusing the group of dragging Lebanon into a war that does not serve Lebanon’s national interests.

“We will not allow the country to be dragged into new adventures, and we will take all necessary measures to apprehend the perpetrators and protect the Lebanese people,” Salam said earlier this year.

The ceasefire’s extension now tests whether diplomacy can succeed where past agreements have failed: separating Lebanon’s national future from Hezbollah’s Iranian-backed proxy war.

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