Lebanon and Israel have held their first diplomatic talks in over three decades, a rare encounter aimed at ending fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who mediated, said it was a 'historic opportunity' to end Hezbollah's influence.
A US statement said the two sides had agreed to launch direct negotiations, at a time and place to be determined. Israel said it wanted to disarm all non-state terror groups - a reference to Hezbollah.
Lebanon called for a ceasefire and measures to address its humanitarian crisis. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations, and the last direct, high-level talks between them took place in 1993.
Over 2,000 people have been killed since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on 2 March, just days after US and Israeli strikes began in Iran. While the two sides were meeting in Washington on Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed at least 24 attacks on Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon.
Drone and rocket alarms sounded in communities across northern Israel for much of the day. Israel has said its operations in Lebanon are aimed at disarming and dismantling the group, which it also fought in 2023 and 2024 as the war in Gaza raged.
A spokesman for the US state department, Tommy Pigott, said in a statement after the talks that both Israel and Lebanon had agreed to work towards reducing the influence of Hezbollah. The Lebanese side also called for a 'ceasefire and concrete measures to address and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis' in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, the US 'expressed its support for Israel's right to defend itself' from Hezbollah's attacks, he said. Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Rubio said the meeting was 'a process'. He added, 'This will take time, but we believe it is worth this endeavour.'
In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hoped the talks would 'mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular'. He insisted the 'only solution' to the conflict would be in the Lebanese armed forces 'being solely responsible for the security of the area'. However, the Lebanese government's capacity to confront Hezbollah is limited.
Ahead of the talks, a senior member of Hezbollah told the AP news agency it would not abide by any settlement agreed in Washington, stating, 'We are not bound by what they agreed to.'
Hezbollah, a well-armed militia founded in 1982, holds significant sway in Lebanon's predominantly Shia south and in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Politicians affiliated with the group hold two cabinet-level positions in the government. Their relationship with Lebanon's central government has become increasingly strained as the group has participated in the war between Israel and Iran, its main benefactor.
In separate talks held between the US and Iran in Pakistan, Iranian negotiators insisted that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire - although both the US and Israel disagreed. A US state department official said the Israel-Lebanon talks were planned a month ago, prior to the Iran discussions. Since the latest hostilities broke out, over 2,000 people have been killed, and approximately one million individuals have been displaced.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who mediated, said it was a 'historic opportunity' to end Hezbollah's influence.
A US statement said the two sides had agreed to launch direct negotiations, at a time and place to be determined. Israel said it wanted to disarm all non-state terror groups - a reference to Hezbollah.
Lebanon called for a ceasefire and measures to address its humanitarian crisis. The two countries do not have diplomatic relations, and the last direct, high-level talks between them took place in 1993.
Over 2,000 people have been killed since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on 2 March, just days after US and Israeli strikes began in Iran. While the two sides were meeting in Washington on Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed at least 24 attacks on Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon.
Drone and rocket alarms sounded in communities across northern Israel for much of the day. Israel has said its operations in Lebanon are aimed at disarming and dismantling the group, which it also fought in 2023 and 2024 as the war in Gaza raged.
A spokesman for the US state department, Tommy Pigott, said in a statement after the talks that both Israel and Lebanon had agreed to work towards reducing the influence of Hezbollah. The Lebanese side also called for a 'ceasefire and concrete measures to address and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis' in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, the US 'expressed its support for Israel's right to defend itself' from Hezbollah's attacks, he said. Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Rubio said the meeting was 'a process'. He added, 'This will take time, but we believe it is worth this endeavour.'
In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hoped the talks would 'mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular'. He insisted the 'only solution' to the conflict would be in the Lebanese armed forces 'being solely responsible for the security of the area'. However, the Lebanese government's capacity to confront Hezbollah is limited.
Ahead of the talks, a senior member of Hezbollah told the AP news agency it would not abide by any settlement agreed in Washington, stating, 'We are not bound by what they agreed to.'
Hezbollah, a well-armed militia founded in 1982, holds significant sway in Lebanon's predominantly Shia south and in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Politicians affiliated with the group hold two cabinet-level positions in the government. Their relationship with Lebanon's central government has become increasingly strained as the group has participated in the war between Israel and Iran, its main benefactor.
In separate talks held between the US and Iran in Pakistan, Iranian negotiators insisted that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire - although both the US and Israel disagreed. A US state department official said the Israel-Lebanon talks were planned a month ago, prior to the Iran discussions. Since the latest hostilities broke out, over 2,000 people have been killed, and approximately one million individuals have been displaced.
