Lebanese and Israeli officials agreed Tuesday to continue negotiations aimed at ending hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, according to a joint statement from the U.S. Department of State reported by latercera.com.
The meeting took place in Washington under the mediation of the United States. The talks focused on defining the next steps required to launch direct negotiations between the two nations.
This gathering marks the first high-level meeting between the governments of Israel and Lebanon since 1993, the joint note stated. The talks included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon, Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
The U.S. administration described the meeting as a "historic milestone." Officials expressed hope that future discussions could move beyond the 2024 ceasefire agreement to reach a "comprehensive peace agreement."
Disarmament and Sovereignty
The Trump administration expressed support for Beirut's plans to "restore the monopoly on force," a reference to the disarmament of Hezbollah. The U.S. also signaled support for efforts to end Iran's dominant influence in Lebanon.
U.S. officials reiterated Israel's right to defend itself against ongoing attacks from the Shiite group. The State Department emphasized that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached directly between the two governments through U.S. mediation, rather than through parallel channels.
According to the joint statement, these negotiations could unlock significant aid for Lebanon's economic reconstruction and expand investment opportunities for both countries.
The Israeli delegation reiterated its support for the disarmament of all non-state terrorist groups and the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon. Israeli officials stated they are prepared to collaborate with the Lebanese executive to achieve this goal.
"Israel has expressed its commitment to engaging in direct negotiations to resolve all pending issues and achieve a lasting peace that strengthens security, stability, and prosperity in the region," the joint note added.
The Lebanese negotiating team emphasized the "urgent need" for Israel to fully respect the November 2024 ceasefire and cease attacks on Lebanese territory. They called for adherence to the principles of territorial integrity and full state sovereignty.
Beirut also requested a truce and concrete measures to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis currently affecting the country. This crisis followed the offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.
Conflict escalated after Hezbollah launched rockets at the Israeli army, prompting an Israeli ground advance in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently authorized direct negotiations to establish peaceful relations and work toward dismantling Hezbollah.
Casualties in Lebanon have reached nearly 2,090 dead and over 6,700 injured due to Israeli attacks since March 2, latercera.com reported. This includes more than 300 deaths and 1,100 injuries recorded last Wednesday during the largest single-day wave of Israeli strikes.
