US to Host Israel–Lebanon Talks on Ceasefire

The United States will host a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday to help both sides reach an agreement, a US official said, following the start of a fragile US-brokered ceasefire.

The discussions are scheduled to take place at the State Department in Washington and will again be held at the ambassadorial level.

A State Department official said the United States would continue facilitating direct and constructive discussions between the two governments. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

US to Host New Israel-Lebanon Talks on Thursday — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C), accompanied by U.S. State Department Counselor Michael Needham (L), and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (R), begin working-level peace talks with Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter at the U.S. State Department in Washington, DC. Credit: Aharam.

“We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”

The ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon, countries that do not maintain diplomatic relations, previously met at the State Department on April 14.

Three days later, President Donald Trump announced a 10-day truce in a bid to halt the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Shiite armed group that launched rockets after the Israeli-US strikes on its ally Iran.

Despite the ceasefire, sporadic violence has continued.