The United States Department of State has announced the extension of the truce between Israel and Lebanon by 45 days. The measure will serve to “allow progress on the issue”. The decision was made after two days of diplomatic talks in Washington between representatives of the two countries.
The truce
According to the State Department, political negotiations will resume on June 2 and 3, while a security dialogue will be held at the Pentagon on May 29 with the participation of Israeli and Lebanese military delegations. Washington expressed the hope that the talks could “promote lasting peace between the two countries”.
The breakthrough on the truce was announced by US spokesperson Tommy Pigott on X. The talks between the parties were described as “very fruitful”. ”We hope that they will promote lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the creation of real security along the shared border,” Pigott wrote.
Hamas leader eliminated in Gaza
Meanwhile, IDF operations against Hamas continue. The Israeli government has announced the elimination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the military commander of Hamas in Gaza. “We have killed Al-Haddad, commander of the armed wing of Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” declared the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, in a note published by the Israeli media. Al-Haddad was one of the “architects” of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, the statement adds, and had refused to implement the agreement promoted by US President Donald Trump to disarm Hamas. Still no reaction from the Islamist movement.