Israel and Lebanon hold first direct diplomatic talks in more than 30 years

Israel and Lebanon have held their first direct diplomatic talks since 1993, in a rare meeting aimed at reducing tensions linked to the conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

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The discussions took place in Washington and were mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Officials said the meeting could mark the beginning of a diplomatic process to address ongoing hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Push to curb Hezbollah influence

According to a statement from the US State Department, both sides discussed the possibility of holding further direct negotiations, although a date and location for any future talks have not yet been set.

Israel indicated that its main objective was the disarmament of non-state armed groups, an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

Lebanon, meanwhile, urged the establishment of a ceasefire and called for concrete steps to ease what it described as a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations, and direct high-level discussions between them have been extremely rare. The last such talks took place more than three decades ago.

Ahead of the meeting, Rubio described the encounter as part of a broader process that could eventually reduce tensions.

“This will take time, but we believe it is worth this endeavour,” he told reporters, calling the meeting a “historic gathering”.

Fighting continues during talks

The diplomatic effort comes amid an escalation in violence. Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on 2 March, shortly after joint US and Israeli strikes were launched against targets in Iran.

Since then, more than 2,000 people have been killed, according to figures cited by officials. Around one million people have also been displaced since the latest round of hostilities began.

While the talks were under way in Washington on Tuesday, Hezbollah said it had carried out at least 24 attacks against Israel and Israeli forces operating in Lebanon.

Air raid sirens warning of drones and rockets sounded repeatedly across communities in northern Israel throughout the day.

Israel says its military campaign is aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities and preventing further attacks across the border.

Lebanon seeks end to conflict

Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, expressed hope that the talks could help bring an end to the country’s suffering.

In a statement, he said the only viable solution would be for the Lebanese armed forces to become solely responsible for security in southern Lebanon.

However, analysts say the Lebanese government has limited capacity to confront Hezbollah, which remains a powerful armed movement with significant political influence.

Founded in 1982, Hezbollah maintains strong support in the predominantly Shia south of Lebanon and in the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut. The group also holds two cabinet-level posts in the Lebanese government.

Hezbollah rejects Washington negotiations

A senior Hezbollah figure suggested the organisation would not necessarily accept any agreement reached in Washington.

Wafiq Safa, a member of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Associated Press that the group was not bound by decisions made during the talks.

Separately, Iranian negotiators in discussions with the US held in Islamabad argued that Lebanon should be included in any ceasefire arrangement. Both the United States and Israel rejected that proposal.

A US State Department official said the Israel-Lebanon meeting had been planned about a month earlier, before the separate negotiations with Iran were scheduled.

Despite the diplomatic initiative, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues along the border, underscoring the difficulty of achieving a lasting settlement.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 April 2026