Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days, as two days of Washington-facilitated talks concluded Friday with plans for further negotiations in the coming weeks. The meetings marked the highest-level contact between Lebanon and Israel in decades and have expanded to include security and military officials. According to US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, a new security track will begin at the Pentagon on May 29, while the State Department will convene both sides again from June 2 to 3 for political negotiations.

At the same time, Iran is seeking new leverage over one of the world's most strategically important waterways by targeting subsea internet cables beneath the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global digital and financial traffic linking Europe, Asia and the Persian Gulf. Tehran is reportedly considering charging major technology companies for using submarine cables that pass through the area, while state-linked Iranian media have warned that cable traffic could face disruption if firms refuse to pay.