Israel and Lebanon have agreed to begin direct negotiations at a mutually agreed-upon time and place after a trilateral meeting hosted by the United States in Washington on Tuesday.
The U.S. State Department said the meeting led to "constructive talks on steps toward initiating direct negotiations," which it described as a "historic milestone."
It said all sides had agreed to begin direct negotiations at a later date and in a different location. Details were not initially available.
The talks, the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two countries in more than 30 years, came as Israel continues an air and ground offensive in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah following a March 2 cross-border attack, despite the November 2024 ceasefire.
The U.S. expressed hope that the negotiations could lead to a "comprehensive peace agreement" and assured both countries of its support for further talks.
