Israel and Lebanon leaders to hold talks amid conflict
Leaders of Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold talks on Thursday, marking the first direct communication between the two countries' leaders in 34 years.
This announcement was made by US President Donald Trump following recent high-level negotiations in Washington, DC.
The talks come after a rare face-to-face meeting between senior officials from Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, the first such engagement since 1993.
President Trump described the effort as an attempt to "get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon." The conflict between Israel and Lebanon escalated after Hezbollah, a Tehran-aligned group, launched attacks on Israel on March 2.
Since then, Israeli military operations have resulted in over 2,000 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than one million people.
Israeli ground forces have invaded southern Lebanon, aiming to establish a buffer zone.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an expansion of this invasion eastward, while simultaneously pursuing negotiations with the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah and achieve sustainable peace.
The Lebanese government, which is not a direct party to the conflict, is seeking a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials have discussed a possible ceasefire, with Lebanese sources indicating that a deal could be announced soon.
The ongoing conflict has broader regional implications, as it is intertwined with US-Iran tensions.
The potential ceasefire is viewed as a critical condition for advancing peace talks between the US and Iran and for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route.
Recent diplomatic efforts include mediation by Pakistan, with its army chief visiting Tehran to facilitate dialogue aimed at narrowing gaps between the parties.
