US confirms second round of negotiations between the two countries as the Israeli military annihilates Lebanese towns.<\/p>\n
Published On 20 Apr 202620 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
The United States will host a second round of talks between Lebanon and Israel on Thursday, the US Department of State has confirmed, as the two countries push on with direct negotiations amid regional tensions.<\/p>\n
The talks, which will take place at the State Department, will be the first since a fragile ceasefire<\/a> came into effect between Hezbollah and Israel last week.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n \u201cThe United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,\u201d a State Department spokesperson told Al Jazeera. \u201cWe will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.\u201d<\/p>\n Lebanese and Israeli officials met last week for the first time in decades, sparking anger from Hezbollah and its allies.<\/p>\n But after the ceasefire came into effect, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun<\/a> reasserted on Friday that Beirut will continue on the path of negotiations with Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cThese negotiations are not a weakness. They are not a retreat. They are not a concession,\u201d Aoun said in a televised address.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are a decision stemming from the strength in our belief in our rights and care for our people, and our responsibility to protect our country by all means possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Hezbollah has described the talks as part of a series of \u201closing concessions\u201d that the Lebanese government is making to Israel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe reject the negotiations with the occupying Israeli entity. These negotiations are futile. These negotiations require a Lebanese consensus on changing direction,\u201d Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem<\/a> said last week.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one has a right to take Lebanon towards that approach without internal consensus among its components, which has not happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to blow up neighbourhoods in border villages in south Lebanon to create an annihilated area it is calling a \u201cforward defence\u201d line.<\/p>\n Israeli officials have openly said they aim to replicate the destruction of entire towns in Gaza in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n