Lebanon and Israel opened their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Hezbollah group, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a “historic opportunity” but making clear no breakthrough agreement was immediately expected.
Rubio said the Trump administration is “very happy” to be facilitating the discussions, while noting that “we understand we´re working against decades of history and complexities” that will not be quickly resolved. Hezbollah opposes the direct talks and was not represented, and the group appeared to step up its fire on northern Israel as the talks began.
“But we can begin to move forward with a framework where something can happen, something very positive, something very permanent, so that the people of Lebanon can have the kind of future they deserve, and so that the people of Israel can live without fear,” Rubio said.
Rubio and US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz attended the opening of the session at the State Department that is being led by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
The Lebanese government hopes the talks will pave the way to an end to the war. While Iran has set ending the wars in Lebanon and the region as a condition for talks with the United States, Lebanon insists on representing itself.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and other critics maintain that Lebanon’s government lacks leverage and that it should instead back the position of Iran, Hezbollah’s key ally and patron. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of the militant group´s political council, told The Associated Press that it will not abide by any agreements made in the talks.
Hezbollah enjoys wide influence in Beirut´s southern suburbs, as well as large swaths of the country´s southern and eastern provinces. Hezbollah-allied politicians hold two Cabinet minister positions, though the group’s ties have soured with Lebanon´s top political authorities, who have been critical of Hezbollah´s decision to enter the war last month and who have since criminalized the group’s military activities in the country.
On the day of the talks, incoming fire triggered nonstop drone and rocket alert sirens in Israeli communities near the Lebanese border. Hezbollah so far on Tuesday has claimed 24 attacks on northern Israel and on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
At least 2,124 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Health Ministry said, including hundreds of women and children. More than 1 million people are displaced. The deadliest day of the war took place last week, when Israel launched 100 airstrikes across Lebanon in 10 minutes, including in the heart of the capital, killing over 350 people.