Israel and Lebanon Sit Down for Third Round of Direct Talks in Washington – While Still Exchanging Fire

Israel and Lebanon are back in Washington for their third round of direct talks. The first day of discussions on Thursday was described by a US State Department official as "productive and positive," and the two sides will meet again on Friday. The official added that they hoped to have more to share after the second day.

The timing is not accidental. The negotiations come just days before the existing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is due to expire. Lebanese officials are hoping the two-day session will lead to a renewed truce. They also want to tackle the key sticking points: the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah. The Iran-backed militant group, however, has not been part of the negotiations and has vocally opposed Lebanon engaging in direct talks with Israel at all.

The previous round of talks was also held in Washington last month, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio is absent this time – he is in China alongside US President Donald Trump. Despite his absence, this round marks a significant step up: higher-level envoys are now involved, compared to the last session, which was led by ambassadors.

But the two sides still have a long way to go. Trump previously called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Aoun declined to speak directly with Netanyahu at this stage. According to a Lebanese official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Aoun spoke with Trump recently and told the US leader that if he went to Washington and shook hands with Netanyahu, and the talks then fell apart, it could have internal repercussions in Lebanon and would also discredit Trump. Aoun did say that if the two sides were able to reach a security deal, he would come to the White House and "inaugurate" it. Trump approved of that approach.

Meanwhile, the fighting has not paused for the diplomacy. On Wednesday, Israel struck seven vehicles in Lebanon, three of them on the main highway south of Beirut. The attack killed 12 people, including a woman and two children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Another 10 people, including six children, were killed in later Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, for its part, continues to fire at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and across the border into northern Israel.

Just hours after the talks opened on Thursday, a Hezbollah drone exploded near the border in Rosh Hanikra, injuring three people, according to the Israeli military. It was the first instance of civilian injuries since the ceasefire went into effect.

Renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ignited on 2 March, shortly after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran and assassinated its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In response, Hezbollah resumed rocket strikes at Israel, and Israel responded with airstrikes on Lebanon, including the capital Beirut. Since then, 2,896 people have reportedly been killed and 8,824 wounded in Lebanon, the Health Ministry said. On the Israeli side, 18 soldiers, two civilians, and a defence contractor in southern Lebanon have been killed.

So the talks continue in Washington. The ceasefire ticks toward expiration. Hezbollah is not in the room. And a potential handshake between leaders remains hypothetical. The third round may be productive and positive, but the bombs and rockets suggest otherwise.

Written by Christiane Hofreiter