The US mediation agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by 45 days, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Friday.
Pigott said all sides agreed to extend the ceasefire reached on April 16 following “a highly productive conversation.” He added that the Pentagon will host talks with military delegations on May 29, while the State Department will hold another political-focused meeting on June 2-3.
“We hope these discussions will promote lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of real security along their common border,” Pigott said.
The announcement came as an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least six people, including three health workers, and wounded 22 others, according to local officials. The attacks have killed nearly 3,000 people in Lebanon since March, when Israel resumed operations against the Hezbollah rebel group, which had fired missiles at Israel in support of Iran. Tehran has since listed an end to hostilities in Lebanon as one of its key conditions for a peace deal with the US and Israel.
Hezbollah, which was not part of the peace talks, has continued to fire missiles, rockets and drones at Israeli troops in areas in southern Lebanon that Israel says are needed for “safe zone.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have lost six soldiers since the start of the ceasefire, including a sergeant who was killed on Thursday.
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