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U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the 45-day extension of the cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon after U.S.-mediated talks, his office said.
The cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon was extended for another 45 days following talks in Washington, the U.S. State Department announced Friday.
The current truce, which had already been extended once, was due to expire on Sunday.
The U.S., Israel and Lebanon continue to consider the cease-fire in effect despite recurring violence along the border.
U.N. Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a written statement that Guterres welcomed the extension after talks between Israel and Lebanon mediated by the U.S.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the 45-day extension of the cease-fire following U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon,” Haq said.
Haq said Guterres supports all efforts aimed at ending the suffering of both sides and stopping the fighting.
“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to respect the cease-fire, refrain from further attacks and comply at all times with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law,” Haq said.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the “April 16 cessation of hostilities” would remain in place to allow further diplomatic progress.
Israel launched intensive airstrikes on Lebanon on March 2, and its army occupied several towns in the country’s south.
The Lebanese government said during that period that the number of displaced people in the country had exceeded 1 million.
U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that a 10-day temporary cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel, which took effect on April 17, had been extended for three more weeks.
Despite the cease-fire, Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have continued, while Hezbollah has also continued to respond.
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