WASHINGTON: Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington, following more than a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The diplomatic engagement marks a significant moment, though Israel is ruling out any discussion of a ceasefire and pressing Beirut to disarm the group.
The meeting comes at a critical point in the broader Middle East crisis, just a week into the two-week ceasefire involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Iran has insisted that Israel’s operations in Lebanon must be addressed as part of any comprehensive agreement to end the wider conflict.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meeting as a “historic opportunity,” while cautioning that no immediate breakthrough was expected.
Rubio said the Trump administration was “very happy” to facilitate the discussions, but acknowledged the deep-rooted challenges, noting that “we understand we’re working against decades of history and complexities” that cannot be resolved quickly.
“But we can begin to move forward with a framework where something can happen, something very positive, something very permanent, so that the people of Lebanon can have the kind of future they deserve, and so that the people of Israel can live without fear,” Rubio said.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, in a statement on X, hoped it would “mark the beginning of ending the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and the southerners in particular.”
“The only solution lies in the Lebanese army re-deploying up to the internationally recognised border, and so being solely responsible for the security of the area and the safety of its residents, without the partnership of any other party,” Aoun added.
Rubio and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz attended the opening session at the State Department, which is being led by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
Lebanese officials have expressed hope that the talks could help pave the way toward ending the conflict.
While Iran has made the cessation of fighting in Lebanon and the wider region a key condition for engaging with the United States, Lebanon has maintained that it will represent its own interests independently in the negotiations.
