Israel and Lebanon hold first direct talks since 1993
Israel and Lebanon held their first diplomatic talks in over three decades on Tuesday in Washington. The talks were "a historic opportunity" according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The two sides agreed to launch direct negotiations, at a time and place to be determined. Israel said it wanted to disarm all non-state terror groups. Lebanon called for a ceasefire and measures to address its humanitarian crisis. While the two sides were meeting, Hezbollah claimed at least 24 attacks on Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon. Israel has said its operations in Lebanon are aimed at disarming and dismantling Hezbollah, which it also fought in 2023 and 2024. A spokesman for the US state department, Tommy Pigott, said that both Israel and Lebanon had agreed to work towards reducing the influence of Hezbollah. Joseph Aoun, Lebanese President, said he hoped the talks would "mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular". A senior member of Hezbollah, Wafiq Safa, said "We are not bound by what they agreed to". Over 2,000 people have been killed since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on March 2, just days after US and Israeli strikes began in Iran. About a million people have been displaced in the conflict since the most recent hostilities began.
Marco Rubio said the meeting was "a process" and "This will take time, but we believe it is worth this endeavour".
Quick Summary
Israel and Lebanon have engaged in rare diplomatic talks, the first in over three decades. Mediated by the US, the meeting hints at a path towards de-escalation- but what obstacles remain?
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