Lebanon-Israel Talks Open in Washington as Fighting Pause Holds

-brokered talks with Lebanese officials were in session in Washington, D.C. Reports also noted additional Israeli drone activity over Beirut during the same period. The fifth round of direct negotiations opened Tuesday and is scheduled to last three days.

It follows four earlier rounds since April that produced no durable ceasefire. The conflict began March 2 when Hezbollah fired at Israel in support of Iran, triggering Israeli air and ground operations that have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon.

The latest lull in fighting began after Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding the prior week that requires an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.

A de-confliction cell involving Lebanon was also agreed to monitor compliance. Lebanese officials stated they will press Israel for a reasonable timetable for withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said the purpose of the talks is disarming Hezbollah and achieving a genuine peace agreement.

Israeli air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs largely stopped after the Iran-U.S. memorandum announcement, though fighting continued in the south. Top Israeli officials have stated that troops will remain indefinitely.

A Lebanese official described a fundamental problem of trust, stating that Beirut cannot fulfill Israeli demands while Israel rejects all Lebanese requests. Hezbollah has rejected full disarmament and called on the Lebanese government to withdraw from the direct talks. Since 2025 the Lebanese government has sought to disarm Hezbollah without direct confrontation.