US Calls Thursday’s Israel-Lebanon Talks “Positive and Productive” Amid Ongoing Conflict
The United States has characterized the recent talks between Israel and Lebanon, held in Washington, as “productive and positive.” A State Department official confirmed that discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict will continue on Friday.
Lebanon Demands Ceasefire
A senior Lebanese official indicated that Lebanon will insist on a ceasefire from Israel during the face-to-face negotiations. This comes as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah persist, despite a US-backed truce established last month. An Israeli government spokesperson stated that the primary objective of the talks is to disarm Hezbollah and work towards a peace agreement.
The meeting, which included Lebanese and Israeli envoys alongside US officials, commenced at approximately 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) and lasted for eight hours. The US official described the day as one filled with “productive and positive talks.”
Background of the Conflict
These discussions mark the third meeting between the two sides since Israel intensified its airstrikes on Lebanon following Hezbollah’s missile attacks on Israel on March 2. This escalation occurred just three days into the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, with Israel expanding its ground operations in southern Lebanon last month. Despite strong opposition from Hezbollah, Beirut has chosen to participate in the talks.
The conflict, which runs parallel to the US-Iran tensions, has persisted since President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on April 16. However, hostilities have largely remained confined to southern Lebanon since that time. The current ceasefire is set to expire on Sunday.
Casualties and Military Actions
The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli strikes resulted in 22 fatalities on Wednesday, including eight children. In light of this, the senior Lebanese official stated that the delegation would seek a ceasefire that Israel would enforce. The Israeli military reported that a drone launched by Hezbollah landed in Israeli territory near the border, injuring several civilians.
Israel has maintained a military presence in a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon, asserting that this is necessary to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah’s attacks. The Israeli military confirmed that it conducted a new wave of strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Thursday, while Hezbollah claimed to have executed 17 attacks on Israeli troops in the region the previous day.
Expanding Delegations for Peace Talks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s decision to engage in these talks reflects significant divisions within Lebanon regarding Hezbollah, which was established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982. The Lebanese government has sought the disarmament of Hezbollah since last year. Following the announcement of the April 16 ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that disarming Hezbollah would be a crucial condition in peace negotiations with Lebanon.
These meetings in Washington represent the highest-level engagement between Lebanon and Israel in decades. Both nations are expanding their delegations for this round of discussions, having previously been represented by their ambassadors to Washington in earlier meetings.
Participants in the current talks include Lebanese Presidential Special Envoy Simon Karam and Israel’s Deputy National Security Adviser Yossi Draznin, along with senior military representatives from Israel, as confirmed by a State Department official.
US Mediation and Broader Implications
The US-led mediation efforts between Lebanon and Israel are occurring alongside diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the broader US-Iran conflict. Iran has stated that a cessation of Israel’s military actions in Lebanon is one of its conditions for a resolution to the wider conflict.
President Trump previously hosted the last meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors at the Oval Office, expressing optimism about the potential for a peace agreement this year. However, President Aoun later indicated that the timing was not appropriate for a meeting with Netanyahu, emphasizing the need for a security agreement and a halt to Israeli attacks before discussing a direct meeting.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam articulated Lebanon’s negotiation principles in a recent interview, focusing on reinforcing the ceasefire, establishing a timeline for Israeli withdrawal, and securing the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
The Lebanese health ministry has reported that Israeli military actions have resulted in 2,896 fatalities in Lebanon since March 2, including 589 women, children, and medical personnel. Approximately 1.2 million individuals have been displaced within Lebanon, many fleeing from southern regions. In contrast, Israel has reported the deaths of 17 soldiers in southern Lebanon, along with two civilians in northern Israel.
As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.
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Published on 2026-05-15 07:11:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk