00:00Lebanon and Israel have agreed to extend their ceasefire by another three weeks,
00:05following high-level talks at the White House on Thursday.
00:08President Donald Trump announced the extension after hosting Israel's ambassador
00:12and Lebanon's ambassador to the U.S. in the Oval Office for a second round of talks,
00:17which came a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people, including a journalist.
00:22They've agreed to an additional three weeks of, I guess, no firing, ceasefire.
00:30No more firing. Let's see. We hope that happens.
00:32It's not going to happen between them, but they do have Hezbollah to think about.
00:37Trump also posted on social media, saying that the meeting went very well,
00:42adding the United States would work with Lebanon to help it defend itself against Hezbollah.
00:47The Iran-backed group was not part of the talks and says it has the right to resist Israeli forces.
00:53Trump also said he hopes to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
00:57and Lebanese President Joseph Ayoun soon and suggested there's a strong chance
01:02the two sides could reach a peace deal this year.
01:04If you look at Hezbollah, that's where everybody seems to be united against them.
01:10So they are both very united in that way.
01:14I think there's a very good chance of having peace.
01:16The ceasefire was due to expire this weekend.
01:19It has reduced violence overall,
01:21though clashes and airstrikes have continued in southern Lebanon,
01:24where Israeli troops still hold a self-declared buffer zone.
01:28Israel's military has repeatedly warned Lebanese residents not to cross into the area.
01:33Lebanon has said future talks will focus on an Israeli withdrawal,
01:37the release of Lebanese detainees, and a delineation of the land border.
01:41Israel's focus is on rooting out Hezbollah rather than withdrawing its forces,
01:46which Beirut has been seeking to disarm peacefully for the past year.
01:49Lebanese authorities say nearly 2,500 people have been killed
01:53since Israel went on the offensive following Hezbollah's March 2 attack.
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