Lebanon Israel talks at White House focus on extending truce and future negotiations

Lebanon and Israel were set to hold a second round of direct talks at the White House on Thursday. The meeting was due to focus on extending a truce with the Hezbollah militant group. It was also meant to outline how future negotiations could work. The two countries have no diplomatic ties and a long record of hostility.

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A US official said President Donald Trump planned to greet Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter. The official spoke on condition of anonymity about internal planning. The meeting followed a first session held days earlier. That earlier exchange was the first direct talks in three decades.

Lebanon Israel talks on ceasefire extension

Lebanons President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that Hamadeh would propose extending the 10-day ceasefire. The truce took effect last Friday, Aoun said. Hamadeh was also expected to request a halt to Israeli home demolitions. Aoun said these demolitions were happening in towns and villages occupied after fighting began on March 2.

Aoun said preparations were under way for broader future negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. Aoun said the goals included a full stop to Israeli attacks. Aoun also listed an Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon and the release of Lebanese prisoners. Aoun added border deployment of Lebanese troops and starting reconstruction.

Lebanon Israel talks and US delegation

The State Department said the US team would include Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It also listed State Department Counsellor Michael Needham. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa were also named. The State Department said Huckabee did not join the first round of talks.

Hezbollah rejected the talks. Wafiq Safa, a senior member of the group’s political council, spoke to The Associated Press. Safa said the group would not follow any outcomes from the direct meetings. Even so, the talks marked a shift for two states. They have officially been at war since Israels inception in 1948.

Lebanon Israel talks amid border and Hezbollah dispute

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Lebanon to work with Israel to disarm Hezbollah. "We dont have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved,\" Saar said. Saar made the comments during Independence Day remarks. Saar also called Lebanon a failed state.

\"The obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah,\" Saar said. Saar added that Lebanon could have sovereignty and independence. Saar also spoke of freedom from the Iranian occupation. Lebanon has said it will represent itself. This came as Iran linked wider talks with the US to ending wars in Lebanon and the region.

The latest war began when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. This happened two days after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran. Israel responded with heavy bombardment across Lebanon. Israel also sent ground forces that captured dozens of border towns and villages. Israel said it aimed to remove threats from rockets and anti-tank missiles.

Israels military now holds a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The zone stretches up to 10 kilometers, or 6 miles, inside Lebanon. Last weeks talks were the first between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. In the years between, contacts were usually indirect. They were often handled through the US or UNIFIL.

Since the ceasefire began last week, both sides reported multiple violations. On Wednesday, Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed by an Israeli strike. Lebanese health officials said an ambulance came under Israeli fire after arriving. They said rescuers were blocked from reaching the site. Khalils body was recovered hours later from rubble.

The Israeli military denied deliberately targeting journalists or firing on rescuers. The incident triggered anger in Lebanon ahead of the Washington meeting. After a Cabinet session on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri spoke about next steps. Mitri said officials were preparing a report on alleged Israeli war crimes.

Mitri said ministers also discussed joining the International Criminal Court. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war killed around 2,300 people in Lebanon, officials said. The dead included hundreds of women and children. More than 1 million people were displaced. Lebanons leaders had criticised Hezbollah’s March 2 rocket attack in support of Iran.

Lebanons top authorities then pushed quickly for direct talks to stop escalation. The government hoped Israel would avoid a ground invasion. Despite the current meeting, the wider conflict remained unresolved. The planned talks were set to cover the ceasefire, border security, and future steps. Both sides faced strong pressure from ongoing violence and public anger.

With inputs from PTI