BEIRUT, 16 May. - (ANA) - Hours after the US announced a 45-day extension to the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, Israeli strikes once again pounded southern Lebanon.

 

The US hosted two days of direct talks this week between Lebanese and Israeli officials, resulting in an agreement to extend the truce and continue negotiations next month. 

 

Washington is pushing parallel political and security tracks, with another meeting scheduled for 2-3 June and US-facilitated military coordination expected to begin at the Pentagon later this month.

 

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, described the negotiations as "frank and constructive" and said the chances of success were high. Lebanese officials also welcomed the talks as an important step towards protecting the country’s sovereignty and borders and ending the conflict.

 

Yet, even as Washington praised diplomatic progress, Israeli bombs continued pounding southern Lebanon, with the Israeli military claiming it was targeting Hezbollah positions. Evacuation orders for towns and villages - many of which have already been emptied by months of forced displacement - also continued.

 

For residents of southern Lebanon, the ceasefire exists largely on paper. On the ground, the truce has translated into partial de-escalation rather than a true ceasefire. Beirut, its southern suburbs, and other regions have largely been spared, while southern towns remain under attack.

 

Still, Lebanon's options remain extremely limited.

 

"The Lebanese government has no option but to negotiate given the imbalances in the conflict with Israel," journalist and geopolitical analyst Joe Macaron told The New Arab. "But it has the obligation to do its homework beforehand - laying the groundwork internally and regionally - so Lebanon can defend its interests."

 

He added that Beirut should seek support from allies such as Saudi Arabia, France, and Egypt, and push the Trump administration to restrain Israel and secure concessions to facilitate the talks.

 

Following the first round of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel at the State Department in April, President Donald Trump declared that Israel would halt its attacks. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer," Trump wrote on social media on 17 April. "They are PROHIBITED by doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!"

 

A month later, his words ring hollow, and US credibility as an impartial mediator hangs in the balance.

 

 

 

 

Lebanese political analyst Karim Bitar says both Israel and the Trump administration have treated the talks as a PR exercise, giving the appearance of progress while leaving the ceasefire largely unenforced.

 

"Yesterday’s talks, even though the communique tries to put a positive spin on it, seem meaningless because Israel is unwilling to accept a genuine ceasefire or commit to withdrawing from Lebanese territory," he told TNA.

 

Bitar added that even the Americans are yet to give substantial guarantees that they will support the Lebanese army financially, logistically and militarily in its mission to extend state sovereignty over Lebanon and disarm all armed factions, particularly Hezbollah.

 

"The problem with these direct negotiations is that they’re a double-edged sword," Bitar says. "On the one hand, it can allow Lebanon to appear as a sovereign country sitting at the negotiating table rather than on the menu. But on the downside, even if there is an agreement between the two countries, ultimately Hezbollah will not abide by any decision, and only Iran can force Hezbollah to change its antics or surrender its arsenal."

 

Like Macaron, Bitar says Lebanon must rally support from its allies such as France and Saudi Arabia, amid a massive imbalance of military power between Hezbollah and Israel.

 

When asked about how long can warring sides be engaged in a prolonged conflict, Macaron points to the US-Iran negotiations being mediated by Pakistan. Hezbollah argues that Lebanon should use the US-Iran talks as leverage, but Lebanese leaders insist that such decisions remain solely under Beirut’s authority, rejecting any Iranian role.

 

Reckless military adventure

Hezbollah has blasted the Lebanese government for engaging in direct talks and refuses to surrender its weapons.

 

Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have continued to defend diplomacy as the only viable path out of the conflict. They have criticised Hezbollah for taking military matters into its own hands and unilaterally deciding to go to war with Israel.

 

Salam on Friday said his country has had enough "reckless" wars for foreign interests, calling for Arab and international support in Beirut's negotiations with Israel.

 

Speaking at an NGO dinner, Salam said that he hoped to "mobilise all Arab and international support to bolster our position in the negotiations" with Israel.

 

In an implicit rebuke to Hezbollah, Salam said the country had "enough of these reckless adventures serving foreign projects or interests, the latest being a war we did not choose but was forced upon us, which led to Israel occupying 68 towns and villages".   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/16 May 2026