Israeli strikes continued to pound southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing several people, just a day after Lebanon and Israel held rare talks in Washington that took place without any halt to the Israeli offensive .
The ambassadors of both countries to Washington, joined by the US ambassador to Lebanon, held an introductory meeting at the State Department, attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marking the first direct talks between the two sides since 1993. Talks overshadowed by ongoing war The meeting lasted several hours, with both sides agreeing to pursue further direct talks. However, it unfolded as Israel continued its military onslaught and attempt to invade parts of southern Lebanon , raising questions over the viability of negotiations under fire.
Leiter claimed the two sides had found themselves "on the same side" in a goal of "confronting Hezbollah" and curb "excessive Iranian influence".
Mouawad, meanwhile, described the talks as "constructive" but reiterated Lebanon's demand for a ceasefire.
Lebanon has insisted that negotiations cannot meaningfully proceed while Israeli attacks continue, with civilians still being killed and infrastructure destroyed.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that the Israeli cabinet would discuss a ceasefire in Lebanon at the request of the United States, in a gesture towards Lebanon following the talks.
But speaking to Israeli news outlet Ynet, an unnamed Israeli official denied the reports, saying: "No decision has been made regarding a ceasefire in Lebanon."
However, the outlet noted that discussions on the issue are ongoing, with the US pushing for a ceasefire or some form of truce. Washington pushes political framework The United States, Israel's closest ally and a key backer of Lebanon's army, described the talks as a "historic achievement" and signalled support for expanding them into a broader political process.
A joint statement said Washington backed Israel's "right to self-defence," while calling for any agreement to be reached under US auspices, alongside efforts to restore full state control over arms in Lebanon.
Israel reiterated demands for the disarmament of non-state groups, while Lebanon stressed the need to fully implement the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement, calling for an immediate ceasefire and relief for a worsening humanitarian crisis.
All parties agreed to continue talks at a later date.
A US State Department official told The New Arab that the State Department has approved approximately $58 million in funding to assist displaced people in Lebanon, with the funding focusing on providing food, healthcare, water, shelter, and emergency response needs for those most affected by the conflict. Parallel push for political settlement Separately, Ali Hassan Khalil - an aide to Lebanese Parliament Speaker and key Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri - travelled to Saudi Arabia for discussions reportedly focused on a political framework to halt the war, including disarmament and reviving aspects of the Taif Accord .
The 1989 agreement ended Lebanon’s civil war but left key provisions, including disarmament, only partially implemented. Israeli attacks continue across Lebanon On the ground, fighting has intensified. Hezbollah said it launched rockets at multiple northern Israeli towns as the Washington talks began, while Israel pressed ahead with its assault across southern Lebanon.
Clashes have centred on the southern town of Bint Jbeil , which Israeli forces say they have surrounded.
Israeli strikes on Wednesday hit several areas, killing five people in Ansariyeh, four in Jbaa and one in Babiliyeh, with additional casualties reported elsewhere. A drone strike also targeted a vehicle in Saadiyat , a coastal town south of Beirut.
Lebanon was drawn deeper into the regional war on 2 March after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, following months of Israeli violations of the 2024 ceasefire.
Since then, Israeli attacks - including a major strike on Beirut on 8 April described as the worst in decades - have killed more than 2,000 people, wounded thousands and displaced around one million across southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of the east.
Despite this, negotiations are moving forward under US sponsorship, even as the war continues unabated on the ground.