While Officials in Washington Describe an Opportunity to Extend and Stabilize the Cease-fire Under U.S. Mediation, a Lebanese Government Source and Residents in the South Say There Is Little Belief in Its Durability, Warning That Neither Beirut nor the Army Expects a Genuine Halt to Hostilities as Long as Israeli Air Operations Continue and Hezbollah Remains Under Fire

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.

A third round of direct talks are taking place in the United States as fighting continues in southern Lebanon, despite a truce.

While Officials in Washington Describe an Opportunity to Extend and Stabilize the Cease-fire Under U.S. Mediation, a Lebanese Government Source and Residents in the South Say…