Israel and Lebanon to Begin New Talks in Washington Amid Ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon are due to start ⁠their fifth round of talks in Washington DC on Tuesday, as the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon seems to be holding for now.

Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East conflict in early March, when the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group attacked Israel, in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Israel responded with strikes across the country and later invaded the south, where Israeli soldiers remain stationed.

Beirut has sought the US-mediated talks with Israel as a means to secure peace. Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, maintain that Tehran cannot ​negotiate on Beirut's behalf.

Still, the interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran calls for ending all hostilities, including in Lebanon, a key condition of Tehran which it has on more than one occasion halted negotiations over.

Fighting in Lebanon has abated since Saturday night, a significant development which earlier rounds of Lebanon-Israel talks failed to sustainably secure.

Israel is not a party to the US-Iran peace agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday the Israeli military will keep its "freedom of action" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

"Iran wanted us to withdraw from it but I stood firm," Netanyahu said. "We are keeping our freedom of action and we are keeping the security zone to protect" citizens in northern Israel.

Beirut has maintained that Israeli withdrawal from its territories was a prime goal of the talks.

Israeli strikes kill at least 20 people in Lebanon

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