Israel and Lebanon will extend their ceasefire by three weeks, Donald Trump said.
A meeting on Thursday between high-ranking representatives from Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office “went very well!” the US president said in a post on Truth Social.
The US “is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself” from Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant group, Trump added.
Last week, Israel agreed to halt its war with Hizbollah in Lebanon after pressure from Trump. He announced a 10-day ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon at the time.
Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon after the US and Iran agreed a ceasefire had become a source of tension between the warring parties.
Trump said on Thursday he looked forward to hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun “in the near future”.
Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire extension came after a day of heightened tensions in the Gulf.
Trump said he had ordered the US navy to “shoot and kill” with “no hesitation” any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. He also said the navy would “triple” its operations to clear the strait of any mines.
US Central Command said the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush had arrived in the Middle East, accompanied by three destroyers.
Other developments:
Israel’s defence minister said the country was just “waiting for a green light from the US” to proceed with a severe attack on Iran.
Brent crude closed 3.1 per cent higher at $105.07 per barrel.
Iran executed a man for alleged membership of an exiled opposition group and collaboration with Israel’s intelligence agency.
Trump said the US would not use a nuclear weapon on Iran, saying the American military had “decimated” the Islamic regime.
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