Israel and Lebanon have opened direct diplomatic talks for the first time in over 30 years amid efforts to end fighting with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.
On 15 Apr 2026 GMT+7, representatives from Israel and Lebanon met for direct diplomatic talks for the first time in over 30 years. The discussions took place in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acting as mediator, calling it a "historic opportunity" to reduce Hezbollah's influence and end the conflict.
A U.S. statement said both sides agreed to begin further direct talks in the future, though no time or place has been set. Israel reaffirmed its position demanding the disarmament of all non-state armed groups, while Lebanon called for an immediate ceasefire and proposed urgent measures to ease the country's humanitarian crisis.
Israel and Lebanon have no diplomatic relations, and the last direct high-level talks were in 1993. The situation remains tense, with over 2,000 deaths reported since Israel launched military operations in Lebanon on 2 March. On the day of the talks, Hezbollah claimed to have launched at least 24 attacks on Israel, while air raid sirens sounded throughout northern Israel all day.
The U.S. views these talks as only the beginning of a lengthy process. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that the discussions would help end the suffering of the people, especially in southern areas. However, challenges remain since the Lebanese government does not fully control Hezbollah, whose senior representatives said they would not be bound by any agreements resulting from these talks.