US President Donald Trump has announced a three-week extension to the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, after a meeting with ambassadors of both countries at the White House.

The initial two-week ceasefire was set to expire this week.

Trump said that the US are working to help Lebanon “protect itself from Hezbollah”, aiming to calm the war in the middle-east.

Hezbollah agreed to the initial two-week ceasefire, but are yet to announce if they will participate in the extension.

The announcement comes hours after Israeli strikes killed three people in Southern Lebanon.

Trump said he plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon President Joseph Aoun at the White House “in the near future”.

Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter thanked the US for the meeting, as both Israel and Lebanon “have never been next to each other more than today”.

“We are going to keep going, working for peace. Let’s hope we will get it as soon as possible.”

Photo: President Donald J. Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is available HERE and used under a Creative Commons Licence.