WASHINGTON: Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire US President Donald Trump declared on April 16, the US State Department said on Friday. “The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said. The State Department cast Israel-Lebanon talks — held in Washington on Thursday and Friday — as “highly productive” and said the countries would reconvene negotiations on June 2 and June 3.

The United States on Thursday pushed to extend a fragile Israel-Lebanon ceasefire ahead of its Sunday expiry, as President Donald Trump voiced optimism over China’s efforts on…

Lebanon and Israel agreed on Friday to extend a ceasefire by 45 days despite a new flare-up in violence, the US State Department said after mediating talks in Washington.