Live: Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days, US State Department says
Issued on: 15/05/2026 - 04:55Modified: 15/05/2026 - 22:19
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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a lack of trust with the US was the biggest obstacle in ending the war. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend a ceasefire by 45 days despite a new flare-up in violence, the US State Department said, after new talks in Washington. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments in the Middle East.
15/05/2026 - 22:02Strike hits building in Tyre, south Lebanon after Israeli warning
An Israeli strike hit a building in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after an evacuation warning, state media reported, despite an extension in the truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
An AFP correspondent saw a strike hit one of the threatened buildings.
15/05/2026 - 21:40Lebanon asks for independent truce mechanism, US guarantees
15/05/2026 - 21:37Lebanese delegation to US says Israel truce extension opens path to 'lasting stability'
Lebanon's negotiating delegation in Washington said that the extension of the truce with Israel and the establishment of a US-facilitated security track pave the way for "lasting stability".
"The Lebanese delegation welcomes today's outcome," it said, in a statement shared by the Lebanese presidency after the truce in the Israel-Hezbollah war was extended for another 45 days.
"The extension of the ceasefire and the establishment of a US-facilitated security track provide critical breathing space for our citizens, reinforce state institutions, and advance a political pathway toward lasting stability."
15/05/2026 - 21:22Israel military says carried out Gaza strike targeting chief of Hamas armed wing
Israel said on Friday that it carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Ezzedine Al-Haddad, whom it described as chief of the armed wing of Palestinian movement Hamas.
"Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has carried out a strike in Gaza targeting arch-terrorist Ezzedine Al-Haddad, commander of Hamas's military wing and one of the principal architects of the October 7 massacre," a statement issued by the office of the defence minister said.
"Al-Haddad was responsible for the murder, abduction, and harm inflicted upon thousands of Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers," the statement said.
"He held our hostages in brutal captivity, orchestrated terrorist attacks against our forces, and refused to implement the agreement advanced by US President Donald Trump for Hamas's disarmament and the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
Lebanon PM says country has had enough 'reckless' wars for foreign interests
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his country 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, shortly after the last round of talks ended and extended the ongoing truce for 45 days.
In an implicit rebuke to Hezbollah, which joined the Middle East war in support of Iran, Salam said the country had "enough of these reckless adventures serving foreign projects or interests" and that the Lebanese military should be the only armed body in the country.
15/05/2026 - 21:06Lebanon says 3 paramedics killed in Israeli strike on south
An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed three paramedics from the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Committee, the Lebanese health ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said an Israeli strike "directly targeted" the Islamic Health Committee's centre in Haruf, south Lebanon, killing three paramedics and critically wounding a fourth.
15/05/2026 - 21:05Lebanon PM says only military should have weapons
15/05/2026 - 21:05Lebanon PM calls for Arab, international support in country's talks with Israel
15/05/2026 - 20:21Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days, US State Dept says
Israel and Lebanon have agreed a 45-day extension to a cessation of hostilities to enable further progress, the US State Department has said.
It comes after two “productive” days of talks, and will be followed by more negotiations June 2-3, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
A shaky truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon had been due to end on Sunday.
“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border,” Pigott said on social media.
Israel army issues evacuation warning for areas in Lebanon's Tyre
Israel's military called on residents of several buildings in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre to immediately evacuate ahead of planned strikes in the area.
"Urgent warning to residents of Lebanon, especially to residents of the city of Tyre ... you are located near Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure against which the IDF is preparing to operate," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
"We urge you to immediately distance yourselves from these buildings and the surrounding structures, and move at least 300 metres away from them," the post said, alongside a map identifying the sites.
15/05/2026 - 19:47US charges Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in Europe
An Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in Europe in retaliation for the US war in Iran, including firebombing a bank in Amsterdam and stabbing Jewish men in London, has been arrested and charged with supporting Iran-backed terrorist organizations.
According to a complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Manhattan, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi sought to attack a New York City synagogue last month and provided an undercover law enforcement officer with photos and maps of Jewish centers in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona, that he planned to target.
He is also accused of involvement in two recent attacks in Canada: an attack on a synagogue and a shooting at the US consulate in Toronto in March.
15/05/2026 - 19:44India raises export duty on petrol, cuts those on diesel and aviation fuel
India raised its export duty on petrol and cut those on diesel and aviation fuel, its government said in a statement, within a day of raising retail fuel prices for the first time since the Iran war started.
The duty on exports of petrol has been raised to 3 rupees ($0.0313) per litre while that on diesel has been cut to 16.5 rupees per litre, the statement said. Export duties on aviation fuel have been cut to 16 rupees per litre.
Hezbollah says targeted Israeli barracks with drones
Hezbollah said it had launched drones at an Israeli barracks near Nahariya in northern Israel, as Lebanon-Israel talks entered a second day.
In a statement, the Lebanese group said that it had targeted the Liman barracks north of Nahariya, "with a squadron of attack drones".
15/05/2026 - 18:26 15/05/2026 - 18:26Israel says more than Hezbollah fighters killed in past week
The Israeli military said its forces killed more than 220 Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon over the past week, as peace talks between the countries entered a second day.
"More than 220 Hezbollah terrorists who operated to advance attacks against IDF soldiers were eliminated" over the past week, the military said.
During the same period, Israeli forces also struck more than 440 Hezbollah targets in several areas in southern Lebanon, the military added.
Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,800 people in Lebanon since March 2.
15/05/2026 - 18:07EU facing 'second big wake-up call' on energy, Irish Climate Minister Darragh O'Brien says
FRANCE 24’s “Talking Europe” welcomes Darragh O'Brien, Ireland's Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport who has been directly involved in dealing with the fallout of the Middle East crisis, especially rising energy costs.
15/05/2026 - 17:58Greek-operated tanker is among few oil vessels to cross the Strait of Hormuz
A Greek-operated tanker sailed from the Gulf to India after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in one of the few crude sailings through the waterway this week, ship tracking data showed.
15/05/2026 - 17:57Iran to hold pre-World Cup training camp in Turkey
The Iran team will head to Turkey for a training camp before taking part in the World Cup in the US, local media reported.
"The next phase of the national team's preparation is set to be hosted in Antalya, Turkey," Iranian Football360 website reported, adding that the squad would then travel to their World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona.
Antalya also hosted the Iran team for training and matches in March.
15/05/2026 - 17:24Israeli strikes wound dozens in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said the strikes on the Tyre district wounded at least 37 people, including six hospital personnel, nine women and four children.
15/05/2026 - 03:55- Iran has 'no trust' in the US, will negotiate only if it is serious, FM says
- Palestinians across the world mark Nakba Day
- Israeli army strikes sites in Tyre area of southern Lebanon
- UAE rejects 'Iranian claims' after Tehran alleged active role in war
- Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 45 days, US State Dept says
Yesterday's key developments:
- The International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday that continuing disruptions due to the Iran war meant its global economic outlook was moving towards an "adverse" scenario, with growth pared down and greater risks to inflation.
- US President Donald Trump said President Xi Jinping had offered China's help to open the Strait of Hormuz and pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel.
- Iran's ability to threaten its neighbours and US interests in the region have been dramatically reduced, a senior US admiral said.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
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