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Historic talks aim to curb Hezbollah influence
Israel and Lebanon engaged in their first high-level diplomatic discussions in over three decades on Tuesday, mediated by the United States, as both nations seek to de-escalate hostilities with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Key agreements and demands
Following the talks in Washington, a U.S. statement confirmed both sides agreed to initiate direct negotiations, though details on timing and location remain unresolved. Israel reiterated its demand for the disarmament of all non-state armed groups, explicitly targeting Hezbollah.
Lebanon, meanwhile, called for an immediate ceasefire and urgent measures to address its deepening humanitarian crisis. The two nations have not maintained diplomatic relations since 1993, making these discussions a rare diplomatic breakthrough.
Ongoing violence despite negotiations
Even as the talks proceeded, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 24 attacks on Israeli military positions and northern communities on Tuesday. Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel for much of the day as drones and rockets targeted the region.
Since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on March 2-days after U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran-over 2,000 people have been killed, and approximately one million displaced. Israel has framed its operations as necessary to dismantle Hezbollah, which it also battled in 2023 and 2024 during the Gaza war.
U.S. mediation and regional dynamics
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who facilitated the talks, described the meeting as a "historic opportunity" to reduce Hezbollah's influence. In a statement, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott noted both Israel and Lebanon committed to working toward this goal.
"The Lebanese side called for a ceasefire and concrete measures to address and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in the country."
Tommy Pigott, U.S. State Department spokesman
The U.S. also reaffirmed its support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah's attacks.
Lebanese leadership's stance
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that the talks would "mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people, particularly those in the south." He emphasized that the Lebanese armed forces should be the sole authority responsible for security in the region.
However, Lebanon's government has limited capacity to challenge Hezbollah, which wields significant political and military power. The group controls large swaths of southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs, and its allies hold two cabinet-level positions in the government.
Hezbollah rejects negotiations
Ahead of the talks, Hezbollah signaled its defiance. Wafiq Safa, a senior member of the group's political council, told the Associated Press that Hezbollah would not abide by any agreements reached in Washington.
"We are not bound by what they agreed to."
Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah political council member
The group, founded in 1982, has grown into a well-armed militia with deep ties to Iran, its primary benefactor. Its involvement in the broader Israel-Iran conflict has further strained its relationship with Lebanon's central government.
Broader regional tensions
Separate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan also addressed the Lebanon conflict, with Iranian officials insisting that any ceasefire must include Lebanon. However, both the U.S. and Israel rejected this condition.
A U.S. State Department official told the BBC that the Israel-Lebanon talks were planned a month prior, independent of the discussions with Iran in Islamabad.
