Israel and Lebanon laid out different expectations on a peace deal during talks in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, with Israel insisting on Hezbollah's disarmament and Lebanon calling for a ceasefire and concrete measures to ease the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.
The statement was released after the trilateral talks between Israel, Lebanon and the United States.
The talks, lasting for more than two hours, were attended by Israeli and Lebanese delegations led respectively by Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio chaired the meeting.
The statement noted that "participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon."
The United States stressed that any ceasefire agreement must be reached by the two governments under U.S. mediation. The talks hold the potential to advance Lebanon's reconstruction and economic recovery, while expanding regional investment opportunities, according to the statement.
The Israeli side expressed support for the dismantling of all non-state armed forces within Lebanon and the removal of related "terror infrastructure," pledging to resolve differences through direct negotiations in pursuit of lasting peace and regional stability.
Lebanon, for its part, reaffirmed the need for full implementation of the ceasefire statement issued in November 2024, underscoring its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and calling for concrete steps to address the severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict.
All parties agreed to formally launch direct negotiations at a time and place mutually agreed upon by Israel and Lebanon, the statement noted.
Israel seeks Hezbollah disarmament, Lebanon calls for ceasefire in talks in US
Israel seeks Hezbollah disarmament, Lebanon calls for ceasefire in talks in US
Israel seeks Hezbollah disarmament, Lebanon calls for ceasefire in talks in US
