US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been extended by three weeks. The agreement, initially set to expire Monday, followed diplomatic talks at the White House. Trump stated these discussions "went very well" but acknowledged the ongoing presence of Hezbollah. The initial 10-day ceasefire began last Friday after the first direct diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades, despite Hezbollah's opposition to such negotiations.
Trump also indicated the U.S. will assist Lebanon in defending itself against Hezbollah. He is slated to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. and Iran continuing to seize each other's vessels. Trump ordered the U.S. military to "shoot and kill" any Iranian vessels attempting to mine the strait. He expressed no urgency to end negotiations with Iran, suggesting they are under pressure due to internal turmoil.
In Lebanon, hundreds attended the funeral of journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. Reports indicate the Israeli military struck a house where Khalil and another journalist were sheltering, and later allegedly fired on an ambulance responding to the scene. The Israeli military denied deliberately targeting journalists or rescuers and stated it is reviewing the incident.