US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire for an additional three weeks, following a rare meeting with envoys from the two countries at the White House. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "The meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah."
He added that he looks forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington soon, and sees a "great chance" for a peace deal between the two countries this year. The initial 10-day ceasefire took effect last Friday and was due to expire on Monday.
Despite the truce, strikes have continued. On Wednesday, a Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli attack. The Israeli military said it intercepted several rockets fired from Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed it launched rockets at northern Israel in response to "violations" of the ceasefire.
Regarding the Iran war, Trump ruled out using nuclear weapons, saying: "Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it." He reiterated that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a "core" goal of the conflict.
Defense ministers from Britain and France said they discussed plans for a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz and restore trade flows. Iran stated it would not reopen the strait as long as the US maintains its blockade.
Pope Leo XIV condemned the killing of protesters in Iran and urged the US and Iran to resume peace talks. Trump previously attacked the pope as "terrible" for criticizing the war.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the country is ready to renew fighting against Iran but is awaiting a "green light" from the US, calling for the "elimination of the Khamenei dynasty."
According to a New York Times report, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded in the airstrike that killed his father Ali Khamenei, but remains mentally sharp. He has not appeared in public, issuing only written statements.
Lebanon has expressed a desire for UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) to maintain a presence after their mandate expires next year. The current mission includes approximately 8,500 troops from nearly 50 countries.
In Gaza, Israeli strikes continued, killing at least four Palestinians on Thursday. The Israeli military said it targeted militants transporting munitions.
Source: www.dw.com