The third round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon kicked off in Washington, only days before the current ceasefire is set to expire. The negotiations, which began on May 16 local time, are seen as a step toward more serious discussions involving senior envoys.
Lebanon hopes the two-day talks will yield a new ceasefire agreement and pave the way for resolving pressing issues, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
According to an Al Jazeera correspondent, the ambassadorial-level talks have not yet involved top leaders from Israel, Lebanon, or the United States. Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations. U.S. President Donald Trump had called on Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Aoun declined, citing domestic backlash concerns.
Hezbollah is not participating in the talks and opposes Lebanon engaging in direct dialogue with Israel. Lawmaker Ali Ammar from the group described it as an 'unconditional concession' to Israel.
Despite this, there is cautious optimism. The current ceasefire expires on May 18. The United Nations expressed hope that the new round of talks would help bring about an effective and durable ceasefire, paving the way for lasting peace.
However, the situation on the ground remains tense. The Israeli military continues daily attacks in Lebanon. On May 16, at least three people were killed in airstrikes in the south. According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks from March 2 to date have killed 2,896 people, injured more than 8,824, and displaced over 1.6 million. UNICEF confirmed that at least 200 children in Lebanon have been killed in attacks during the same period.
