Delegations from Israel and Lebanon held a second day of direct talks in Washington on Friday, despite ongoing Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations in Lebanon. The two countries' ambassadors to the United States met at the State Department to continue discussions—the third round of direct negotiations this year.
A US official told Reuters that Thursday's session lasted eight hours and was described as “productive and positive,” though no details were disclosed. Little information has been released about the closed-door talks, and the US official expressed hope for more details after Friday's meeting. Officials from Lebanon and Israel have not commented.
The two sides approach the negotiations with divergent positions. Lebanon demands a complete halt to Israeli attacks and the occupation of its territory. Israel focuses on disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah and the possibility of normalizing relations between the two countries.
The Lebanese delegation includes Presidential Envoy Simon Karam, while Israel sent Deputy National Security Advisor Yossi Draznin. Despite encouragement from US President Donald Trump, Lebanon has so far refused a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. President Aoun emphasized that full normalization is not up for discussion and that Lebanon insists on implementing the ceasefire before further talks.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Israel launched new attacks in southern Lebanon, killing at least seven people, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). The Lebanese Health Ministry said attacks in the Tyre district wounded 37 others. Two people died in a drone strike on a car in Nabatieh while collecting humanitarian aid. Three others were killed in Harouf and two in Tabeen.
Israel issued forced evacuation orders for five villages in southern Lebanon, stating it was striking Hezbollah targets in the area. Hezbollah said it carried out multiple drone attacks on Israel and Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, with several “explosive drones” falling in northern Israel.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that 2,951 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2, when hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated. Over the same period, Israel lost 20 soldiers, including one killed in clashes with Hezbollah on Friday. Even before the March escalation, Israel had carried out more than 10,000 attacks on Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire, killing about 400 people.
Many Lebanese view Israel’s continuous attacks as evidence that it is not serious about ending the war, which has continued at varying intensities since October 2023. Israel agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire on April 16, which expires Sunday, but attacks have not ceased.
