Lebanon and Israel are expected to meet in Washington as efforts continue to preserve a fragile ceasefire.
Lebanon and Israel are expected to hold a second round of talks at the United States Department of State on Thursday.
The meetings mark the first direct negotiations between both countries since 1993. Officials say the talks are designed to prepare the ground for future discussions on normalizing relations.
Thursday’s session is expected to focus mainly on extending the current ceasefire, which has temporarily halted clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said the country’s goals include ending hostilities, securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern areas, and deploying the Lebanese army to the internationally recognized border.
The Lebanese government, formed in 2025, is facing pressure on multiple fronts. It must manage ongoing Israeli military operations while also dealing with Hezbollah’s influence inside the country.
Analysts say the talks are historically significant but likely to be only the first step in a long diplomatic process. Regional tensions, land disputes, and the role of Iran remain major obstacles.
The latest negotiations come after months of conflict that raised fears of a wider regional war and deepened instability along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Thursday’s meeting could help stabilize the ceasefire, but lasting peace will require difficult compromises from all sides.
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