Israel and Lebanon Begin Third Round of US-Mediated Talks with Military Officials

The third round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to commence in Washington, D.C., marking the first inclusion of military representatives from both sides. These talks, hosted at the State Department, occur just before the expiration of a three-week ceasefire initiated by US President Donald Trump. The Israeli delegation includes Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and IDF Head of Strategy Brig.-Gen. Amichai Levin, while Lebanon is represented by former Ambassador Simon Karam and current Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Mouawad. The United States, represented by officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s adviser, is pressing Beirut to repeal the 1955 law prohibiting normalization with Israel as a condition for continuing the ceasefire. Concurrently, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against Iran, accusing Tehran of interfering in Lebanese affairs and violating international obligations. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has called for a national referendum on direct negotiations with Israel, claiming President Joseph Aoun is being cornered by US diplomatic pressure. The discussions aim to establish a deeper framework for agreement, with subsequent rounds planned for Friday following consultations with leadership.