Washington (Web Desk): The second round of US-mediated peace talks between Israel and Lebanon is set to take place on Thursday in Washington at a highly sensitive moment, as a 10-day temporary ceasefire between the two sides nears its expiration.
According to officials from the US State Department, the discussions will be held at ambassadorial level, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio overseeing the process.
Washington is playing a central facilitating role in enabling these direct negotiations. US officials claim that since the diplomatic process began on April 14, there has been what they describe as “positive progress” in the talks.
The initial round of discussions held last week marked the first formal diplomatic contact between Israel and Lebanon since 1993, an engagement that US President Donald Trump described as a historic development.
The talks come in the aftermath of six weeks of intense fighting in southern Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, which eventually led to the current 10-day ceasefire agreement.
The US, along with Israel, has repeatedly urged the Lebanese government to take steps toward disarming Hezbollah, a demand that remains one of the most complex and sensitive issues on the negotiating table.
If the upcoming talks on Thursday fail to produce an agreement on extending the ceasefire or reaching a more permanent settlement, there are growing concerns that the region could once again descend into intensified hostilities.
The negotiations are being closely watched across the Middle East, where they are widely seen as a critical test for regional diplomacy.
The outcome of the Washington meeting is expected to have far-reaching implications, not only for Israel and Lebanon but also for broader stability across the region.