UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the announcement of a 45-day extension of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, said his press office.

Guterres reaffirmed the support of the world body to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line, a border demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel established by the United Nations in 2000, said the press office in a note to correspondents.

Israeli and Lebanese officials had a third round of peace talks in Washington that began on Thursday.

The Lebanese delegation said in a statement on Thursday that Lebanon, the United States and Israel had agreed to extend the ceasefire deadline between Lebanon and Israel by another 45 days.

However, on the same day, the Israeli forces launched multiple airstrikes on southern Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.

On Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said in a statement that Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 had killed 2,969 people and wounded another 9,112.

"The secretary-general urges all actors to fully respect the cessation of hostilities, cease any further attacks and comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times," said the press office.

(With input from Xinhua)