United against Hezbollah: Israel, Lebanon hold first direct talks in decades

Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a historic opportunity while cautioning that no immediate breakthrough was expected.

The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, marked a rare moment of engagement between two countries that have technically been at war for decades and have relied largely on indirect communication.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter described the talks in strikingly positive terms, pointing to what he called a convergence of views on Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon.

“The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah,” Leiter said. “Iran has been weakened. Hezbollah is dramatically weakened. This is an opportunity.”

WE ARE ON THE SAME SIDE

Leiter said the discussions revealed an unexpected alignment between the two sides, despite years of hostility and ongoing conflict. “We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation. That’s the most positive thing we could have come away with,” he said. “We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah.”

The remarks underscore a central theme of the talks, a shared concern over Hezbollah’s influence, even as both countries remain divided on broader political and security issues. However, there was no immediate comment from the Lebanese side, which was represented by ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

LIMITS ON THE GROUND

Despite the diplomatic opening, the situation on the ground remains tense. Hezbollah, which opposed the talks and was not represented, has continued attacks on northern Israel, while Israeli forces maintain operations in southern Lebanon.

Neither Israel nor the Western-backed Lebanese army has been able to forcibly disarm Hezbollah, which retains significant military strength and political influence across Lebanon.

The group’s absence from the talks highlights the limits of any potential agreement, as its role remains central to both the conflict and any future settlement.

A CAUTIOUS PATH FORWARD

Rubio stressed that the meeting should be seen as part of a longer process. “We understand we’re working against decades of history and complexities,” he said, adding that the goal is to move toward something “very positive” and “very permanent.”

The US State Department described the talks as “productive,” saying both sides agreed to continue direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue.

For now, the talks offer a narrow diplomatic opening, one shaped by a shared stance on Hezbollah, but constrained by ongoing fighting, deep mistrust and the absence of key actors from the negotiating table.

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