Diplomats from Lebanon and Israel are set to meet in Washington, DC later today to discuss a potential ceasefire amid continued Israeli attacks on the country that have killed more than 2,000 people since March 2.
Conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, which Israel says it is currently targeting in Lebanon, has been ongoing for decades.
In 1982, Israel launched a full-scale invasion of Lebanon to counter the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). The same year, Hezbollah was formed with the purpose of ridding Lebanon of Israeli influence.
In recent years, Israel and Hezbollah have participated in several distinct conflicts. Most recently, Israel launched a full-scale war on Hezbollah after the group fired at Israeli-held territory in support of Hamas following its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
A notable moment took place in September 2024, when explosions targeting the pagers and walkie-talkies of Hezbollah members killed dozens of people in Lebanon, including children, and injured thousands.
In November 2024, Hezbollah and Israel agreed to a ceasefire deal brokered by the US and France. But Israeli forces remained in the country after this time and carried out near-daily strikes, citing Hezbollah violations.
After Israel killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike in late February, Hezbollah began firing at Israel once again.
The Israeli military retaliated by launching an intense wave of airstrikes on what it said were Hezbollah positions and sent troops deeper into Lebanese territory, seeking to establish a buffer zone in the south of the country.
The attacks have continued, despite the ceasefire agreed upon by the US, Israel and Iran last week.
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Sarah Tamimi and Tamara Qiblawi contributed to this reporting.