WASHINGTON: US Secretary Marco Rubio voiced hope Wednesday that the latest round of talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon will produce a security roadmap, despite Israel and Hezbollah's continuing hostilities. Israeli and Lebanese envoys meeting Wednesday for the fourth round of direct talks in the US capital "hopefully today will... produce a joint statement and an action plan on the track for security in that country, independent from Hezbollah," Rubio told a congressional panel.

The U.S. proposes a plan for Israel-Lebanon de-escalation, urging Hezbollah to halt attacks in exchange for Israeli restraint.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has proposed a plan for gradual de-escalation between Israel and Lebanon. The proposal suggests Hezbollah halt attacks on Israel. In return,…