White House Extends Ceasefire Between Israel and Lebanon – SOFREP News Team

The White House has announced an extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire until February 18, following intense diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to prevent its collapse.

The decision grants Israel’s military more time to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon and allows the Lebanese army to fully deploy along the border, as stipulated in the original ceasefire agreement.

While this extension offers a temporary reprieve, it also underscores the fragility of the situation on the ground.

High-Stakes Mediation

The extension, secured just minutes before the original 60-day withdrawal deadline expired, reflects the urgency of the negotiations.

According to the White House, the Trump administration worked tirelessly with regional partners over the past 96 hours to reach an agreement.

“The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel, and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023,” the announcement reads.

Without this intervention, the ceasefire—brokered after the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in late November—was at risk of unraveling.

The extension grants an additional three and a half weeks for Israel’s military to finalize its withdrawal and for the Lebanese army to take full control of the border region.