Israel and Lebanon to talk as war with Hezbollah rages, Haaretz reports

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT –

Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported on Saturday, in what would be a diplomatic milestone between the two states as Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah wage war.

Three Lebanese officials said Beirut is forming a delegation for talks but no date has been set. One of the officials said Lebanon needed clarity on whether Israel would abide by President Joseph Aoun’s first point — a demand for a full ceasefire to allow negotiations to take place.

There was no immediate comment on the Haaretz report from the Israeli government.