Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days, their first since the start of the Iran war that has drawn Lebanon deeper into conflict.
U.S President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will be involved in the talks that may be held in Paris or in Cyprus, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confidant Ron Dermer, leading the Israeli delegation.
The negotiations were expected to focus on ending fighting in Lebanon and disarming the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah opened fire on Israel on March 2 saying it was retaliating for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader at the start of the U.S-Israeli war on Iran.
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Israel has since launched an extensive bombing campaign against the powerful Lebanese armed group, which has killed more than 770 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more, while Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets across the border.
The conflict between Israel and Lebanon is a long-standing dispute mainly linked to clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful armed group and political party based in Lebanon.
Tensions between the two sides date back decades. Lebanon and several Arab countries fought against Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and although large-scale battles between the Lebanese army and Israel later became rare, southern Lebanon became a base for armed groups opposing Israel.
In recent years, tensions have continued along the Israel-Lebanon border. Fighting intensified again after the Israel-Hamas War (2023-present), as Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanged cross-border fire. These clashes have displaced thousands of civilians on both sides.
Today, Israel and Lebanon do not have a formal peace agreement and remain technically in a state of conflict.
Occasional negotiations or proposed talks between the two countries are usually aimed at reducing border tensions and preventing a wider regional war.
Reuters