Lebanon Hopes Washington Talks Will Halt Israeli Expansion
Al Jazeera
Representatives from Lebanon and Israel met in Washington on June 3 for two-day talks to de-escalate the conflict. Lebanon seeks a full ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from southern areas, while Israel demands Hezbollah disarm. The talks occur amid ongoing clashes and regional pressures involving Iran and the U.S.
Beirut, Lebanon – On June 3, representatives from Lebanon and Israel convened at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., for the first session of a two-day round of negotiations. Lebanon expects the talks to end Israel's incursion into its territory.
The negotiations take place as Israel continues to push deeper into Lebanon — the deepest incursion since 2000 — while clashes between Hezbollah and Israel persist. According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, Israel has killed 3,468 people in Lebanon since March 2.
Key Issues on the Table
The Lebanese government is pushing for a full ceasefire. However, even as talks began, Israel continued to strike areas in southern Lebanon. Lebanon also wants Israel to withdraw from southern territories so that more than 1.2 million displaced people can return home, while seeking to disarm Hezbollah and rebuild devastated areas.
For its part, Israel wants guarantees that Lebanon will disarm Hezbollah. Analysts, however, suggest Israel understands this is a complex matter while military operations and occupation continue. Instead, Israel appears to be seeking to stoke sectarian tensions within Lebanon.
Previous Rounds
An initial meeting took place in April between the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel in Washington. A second round followed in May with larger delegations. On May 31, a military meeting between the two sides was held, without participation from Hezbollah.
Israel reported that both sides agreed on the shared goal of disarming Hezbollah. Some Israeli officials hinted that a trade and tourism agreement could be reached soon. Lebanon says it wants an agreement closely aligned with the 1949 armistice line between the two countries.
In the most recent meeting, Beirut presented data on damage from Israeli attacks since the 2024 ceasefire and provided detailed maps of destroyed homes.
Ceasefire Outlook
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the military will continue to strike Lebanon. On June 2, he announced that strikes would resume on Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh, despite a previous ceasefire.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, intervened by threatening to attack northern Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump is reported to have intervened to prevent Israeli strikes. He announced a renewed ceasefire on Truth Social: “No soldiers will enter Beirut, and any soldiers already en route have been ordered to turn back.”
However, attacks from both Israel and Hezbollah continue unabated.
Domestic Lebanese Views
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam support direct negotiations. “There is no alternative to negotiations,” Aoun said on June 3. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah allies argue for indirect talks and that negotiations cannot proceed while attacks continue.
Role of Iran and the U.S.
On February 28, Israel and the U.S. struck Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Two days later, on March 2, Hezbollah fired six rockets toward Israel. Israel responded forcefully, crossing the Litani River — a former buffer zone — and advancing toward the Zahrani River.
Iran wants Lebanon included in any ceasefire agreement with the U.S. and Israel, but Israel and the U.S. say the region is not part of such a deal.
Other Actors
Gulf states have also intervened. Saudi Arabia is working behind the scenes to unify the positions of Lebanese leaders. Analysts say Saudi Arabia and Qatar have lobbied the Trump administration to prevent further escalation in Lebanon.
