Washington, 24 April (H.S.):

In a breakthrough hosted by the United States, Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement on a three-week military ceasefire during ambassador-level talks in Washington on Thursday.

President Donald Trump made the announcement following discussions with both sides at the conclusion of the meeting. Trump expressed delight over the success of the peace talks, which were mediated by the U.S. State Department.

According to reports from CBS News and Al Jazeera, Trump declared after the second round of peace talks at the White House on Thursday that the ceasefire between the two nations has been extended for three weeks. He posted on Truth Social: The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended for three weeks. The initial 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon had taken effect on April 16.

The president stated that the agreement came after a meeting in the Oval Office, attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Issa, and high-level representatives from Israel and Lebanon. Trump wrote: The meeting went very well. I look forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said Iran must stop funding the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, calling it essential for peace. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah issued a statement saying: In response to defending Lebanon and its people against the Israeli enemy's ceasefire violations and targeting the Yater town in southern Lebanon, we have targeted the Shlomi settlement with a barrage of rockets.

The Israeli military posted on social media that it had intercepted several rockets entering Israeli territory from Lebanon.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that this rocket attack followed an earlier Israeli strike on southern Lebanon on Thursday, which killed three people. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that his country is prepared to resume war against Iran and is awaiting a green light from the United States.

In response, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is ready to confront any scenario. Protests continue internationally over the killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil.

Lebanon's ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, briefly addressed reporters at the White House.

Speaking to Lebanon's LBCI broadcaster, Moawad said: We presented Lebanon's position regarding stopping Israeli violations and the destruction in the south. We promised President Trump that we will make Lebanon great again.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar