U.S. Approval Enables Israel's Continued Military Operations Under Lebanon Ceasefire Framework

Israel Hayom, a prominent Israeli daily, disclosed Monday that Washington has authorized Israel to sustain its military campaign in Lebanon while operating within what it characterized as an "active ceasefire."

According to the publication, the existing ceasefire arrangement effectively grants Israel "complete freedom of movement" along the Lebanese border, with only the White House and Lebanese authorities actively pushing for the truce's continuation.

Senior Israeli officials cited by Israel Hayom indicated that the recent U.S. announcement extending the ceasefire essentially provides Tel Aviv with an additional 45 days to prosecute its military campaign within Lebanese territory.

The development follows the U.S. State Department's announcement that it would facilitate Lebanese-Israeli negotiations on May 14 and 15. Those discussions resulted in an agreement to prolong the "cessation of hostilities," which commenced on April 16, by another 45 days. The stated objective is to create space for both military and diplomatic advancements.

Yet despite the ceasefire's implementation and U.S.-sponsored negotiations, Israeli military strikes have persisted across southern Lebanon, the western Bekaa Valley, and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Recent weeks have witnessed hundreds of casualties and injuries among the civilian population, including women and children, alongside widespread damage to residential areas and civilian infrastructure.