Donald Trump has claimed the leaders of Lebanon and Israel will speak on Thursday, as they look to bring an end to more than six weeks of war between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
The US president said he is “trying to get a little breathing room” between the two countries, claiming that “it has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years”. He did not clarify which leaders would speak, and prime ministerial offices in Lebanon and Israel have not responded.
The discussions would follow a series of talks between Lebanese and Israeli delegations in Washington, the first direct talks the two countries have held in decades.
It brought together Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, with the Americans mediating.
Why has Israel invaded Lebanon?
Israel launched an intense bombardment on Lebanon and an invasion of the country’s south after Hezbollah fired several rockets across the border on 2 March in response to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran days earlier.
Israel has deployed five divisions in Lebanon since 16 March, and has destroyed the main bridges on the Litani river, in order to cut off the south from the rest of Lebanon.
The military described the invasion as a "targeted ground operation against key targets" in southern Lebanon which was aimed at establishing "the forward defense area”. On 24 March, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz declared that military forces would demolish the border settlements in Lebanon and occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.
On 8 April came the deadliest day of the conflict, when Israel launched a scores of airstrikes in just 10 minutes, killing more than 350 people according to Lebanese authorities.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese people were displaced from their homes and are yet to return - but Katz said these operations would continue until Hezbollah no longer posed a threat to communities in northern Israel, and ruled out allowing the displaced to return south until then.
What are the key issues being discussed in talks?
Soon after Israel's bombardment and invasion of Lebanon began, the country’s relatively new leadership - elected in early 2025 on a reformist platform which vowed to disarm non-state actors such as Hezbollah - began requesting direct talks.
Lebanon wants the talks to precede a long-term ceasefire, after Israeli officials rejected a ceasefire with Hezbollah ahead of the talks, which were confirmed by Netanyahu on 10 April. It wants Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, reconstruction of the large areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut that have been destroyed, and a return of displaced people to their home.
Beirut is also pushing for international funding for its military, to allow it to deploy across the country and gain full control over Hezbollah strongholds.
From Israel’s perspective, the critical issue at hand is the future of Hezbollah and its influence in Lebanon. Furious at the militant group’s decision to enter a new war, the Lebanese government has since banned the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and moved to criminalise Hezbollah’s military activities.
But while Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and prime minister Nawaf Salam have moved against the Iranian-aligned group, Hezbollah retains the ability to launch attacks on northern Israel.
Could talks lead to a ceasefire?
The first direct talks were held on Tuesday, and were described by Israeli representative Mr Leiter as “wonderful”. During the two hour talks, he said, there was a “convergence of opinion” with regard to removing Hezbollah’s influence in the country.
"The Lebanese government made it very clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah," Mr Leiter stated. "Iran has been weakened. Hezbollah is dramatically weakened. This is an opportunity."
But Hezbollah, which was not represented at the talks, opposed the negotiations and appeared to intensify its attacks on northern Israel in response. Senior officials have said they will not abide by any agreements made.
It is also unclear whether Israel, whose senior officials have previously rejected calls for it to halt hostilities in Lebanon, are prepared to agree to an immediate ceasefire. They did, however, halt attacks on Beirut last Wednesday on Washington’s request.
The Lebanese delegation has not officially commented on the talks.
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