Lebanon to Demand Ceasefire from Israel at Washington Talks

Lebanon is set to demand an immediate ceasefire from Israel during high-level face-to-face talks in Washington, scheduled for Thursday and Friday. This diplomatic push comes as cross-border hostilities between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continue, despite a U.S.-backed truce declared on April 16 that is due to expire soon. The upcoming meetings mark the third round of negotiations since fighting reignited on March 2 and represent the highest-level contact between the two nations in decades. Lebanon’s delegation, led by Presidential Special Envoy Simon Karam, will include broader representation than previous sessions, reflecting President Joseph Aoun’s commitment to securing a security agreement and Israeli withdrawal. Conversely, Israel insists on Hezbollah’s disarmament as a fundamental condition for peace. Tensions remain high, with recent Israeli strikes killing 22 people in Lebanon, including eight children, while Hezbollah attacks have injured Israeli civilians. The mediation efforts are occurring parallel to broader diplomacy aimed at resolving the wider U.S.-Iran conflict, with Iran linking an end to the Lebanon war to any potential deal. Both sides are expanding their delegations, signaling the critical nature of these negotiations amidst ongoing violence and significant humanitarian displacement in southern Lebanon.