Israel, Lebanon Agree To Begin Direct Talks, US Says Following Meeting In Washington

WASHINGTON, April 15 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The US, Israel, and Lebanon agreed to begin direct negotiations following a trilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, according to a statement released following the meeting, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

The meeting, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and attended by Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, included “productive discussions” on steps toward initiating direct talks, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in the statement.

“All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue,” it said.

“The United States expressed its hope that talks can exceed the scope of the 2024 agreement and bring about a comprehensive peace deal,” it added.

According to the statement, Israel “expressed support” for disarming non-state armed groups and dismantling militant infrastructure in Lebanon while committing to “direct negotiations” with Lebanon to “achieve that goal to ensure security for the people of both countries".

Lebanon reaffirmed the “urgent need” for the full implementation of the Nov 2024 deal, stressing territorial integrity and sovereignty and calling for a ceasefire and “concrete measures” to address the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis, the statement added.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU