Lebanon Pushes for Ceasefire as Washington Talks Begin
Lebanese delegation seeks ceasefire implementation during diplomatic discussions with Israel.
The Lebanese delegation, attending face-to-face talks with Israeli envoys in Washington, has urged for a firm ceasefire implementation.
The meetings, which commenced around 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday and are expected to extend into Friday, represent the third round of negotiations since hostilities escalated between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2.
The discussions come despite Lebanon's strong reservations about attending, particularly from the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah party.
An Israeli government spokesperson stated that the talks aim to achieve disarmament for Hezbollah and establish a peace agreement.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on April 16, hostilities have largely been confined to southern Lebanon.
However, on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry reported 22 deaths resulting from Israeli strikes, including eight children.
Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, has decided to pursue these talks, reflecting deep internal divisions regarding Hezbollah, which was founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982.
The April 16 ceasefire declaration included a demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the disarmament of Hezbollah as a fundamental requirement for peace negotiations.
These Washington meetings mark a significant development, representing the highest-level direct contact between Lebanon and Israel in decades.
Both countries are broadening their delegations for these talks after previous meetings were attended by ambassadors to Washington.
Simon Karam, Lebanese Presidential Special Envoy, and Yossi Draznin, Israel’s Deputy National Security Adviser, will be joined by senior Israeli military representatives according to a State Department official.
This mediation aligns with broader diplomatic efforts focused on resolving the U.S.-Iran conflict, where ending the Lebanon-Israel war has emerged as a critical demand for Iran.
Past meetings have included significant interaction, with President Trump hosting Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in the Oval Office.
However, these discussions are marked by ongoing challenges such as securing a ceasefire, establishing a timetable for Israeli withdrawal, and negotiating the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
The conflict has resulted in over 2,896 fatalities in Lebanon since March 2, including women, children, medics, and combatants.
Approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced, particularly from southern Lebanon, while Israel reports 17 soldiers and two civilians killed.
The meetings, which commenced around 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday and are expected to extend into Friday, represent the third round of negotiations since hostilities escalated between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2.
The discussions come despite Lebanon's strong reservations about attending, particularly from the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah party.
An Israeli government spokesperson stated that the talks aim to achieve disarmament for Hezbollah and establish a peace agreement.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire on April 16, hostilities have largely been confined to southern Lebanon.
However, on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry reported 22 deaths resulting from Israeli strikes, including eight children.
Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, has decided to pursue these talks, reflecting deep internal divisions regarding Hezbollah, which was founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982.
The April 16 ceasefire declaration included a demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the disarmament of Hezbollah as a fundamental requirement for peace negotiations.
These Washington meetings mark a significant development, representing the highest-level direct contact between Lebanon and Israel in decades.
Both countries are broadening their delegations for these talks after previous meetings were attended by ambassadors to Washington.
Simon Karam, Lebanese Presidential Special Envoy, and Yossi Draznin, Israel’s Deputy National Security Adviser, will be joined by senior Israeli military representatives according to a State Department official.
This mediation aligns with broader diplomatic efforts focused on resolving the U.S.-Iran conflict, where ending the Lebanon-Israel war has emerged as a critical demand for Iran.
Past meetings have included significant interaction, with President Trump hosting Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in the Oval Office.
However, these discussions are marked by ongoing challenges such as securing a ceasefire, establishing a timetable for Israeli withdrawal, and negotiating the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.
The conflict has resulted in over 2,896 fatalities in Lebanon since March 2, including women, children, medics, and combatants.
Approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced, particularly from southern Lebanon, while Israel reports 17 soldiers and two civilians killed.
