Beirut– Lebanon and Israel are set to hold the first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington on Tuesday, following more than a month of war between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group that has rocked the small Mediterranean country.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in talks in Washington with Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Mouawad.
The health ministry said at least 2,089 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including 252 women, 166 children and 88 medical workers, while 6,762 others were injured. more than this 10 lakh people are displaced.
The Lebanese government hopes that talks will lead to an end to the war. While Iran has made negotiations with the United States conditional on ending the wars in Lebanon and the region, Lebanon is insisting on representing itself.
Hezbollah and critics are skeptical and believe that the Lebanese government has no influence in Beirut and must take advantage of the position of Iran, the group’s key ally and patron.
Israeli forces have continued an offensive into southern Lebanon, which some Israeli officials say is aimed at creating an uninhabited “security zone” about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border to the Litani River. Iran-backed Hezbollah, although weakened in its last war with Israel, which ended in November 2024, still fires drones, rockets and artillery daily at ground troops inside northern Israel and Lebanon.
A US State Department official said the Israeli and Lebanese governments are meeting to discuss ensuring long-term security along Israel’s northern border and supporting Lebanon as it seeks to take control of its territory and political future from Iran-backed Hezbollah.
This would be the first conversation between the two since 1993, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Lebanon’s top political officials, criticizing Hezbollah’s decision to fire rockets toward Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, immediately proposed direct talks to de-escalate tensions, hoping Israel would not launch its own ground offensive.
Israel did not respond positively until last week, as it launched 100 strikes across the country, including the center of the Lebanese capital.
Beirut wants a ceasefire as a pre-condition for talks similar to the Pakistan-brokered talks between the US and Iran.
President Joseph Aoun, who came to power by vowing to disarm non-state groups including Hezbollah, said on Monday that “Israel’s annexation of Lebanese territories is not a solution, nor will it yield any results.” “Diplomatic solutions have consistently proven to be the most effective means to resolve armed conflicts globally.”
Israel has refused a ceasefire.
Shosh Bedrosian, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Monday, “We will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks against Israel and our civilians.”
Hezbollah and its supporters have been critical, calling it an open concession to Israel.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem gave a fiery speech calling on Lebanon to cancel talks. Hezbollah wants a return to the 2024 agreement that was negotiated indirectly with the US, France and the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon as mediators.
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Lee reported from Washington.
