US pushing Israeli de-escalation ahead of new talks: Lebanese official
TL;DR
The US is working to de-escalate Israeli actions in Lebanon and solidify a ceasefire ahead of new negotiations. Delegation-level talks are set to begin on May 17 in Washington, DC, focusing on security and political issues.
Key points
- US aims to de-escalate Israeli actions in Lebanon
- Negotiations to address security and political issues
- Upcoming talks scheduled for May 14 and 15
- Continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon
- Ceasefire status quo remains despite ongoing violence
Mentioned in this story
The United States is trying to de-escalate Israel’s actions in Lebanon as it pushes for solidifying an ongoing ceasefire and moving to the next phase of negotiations between the two sides, according to a Lebanese official.
The official, who spoke to Al Jazeera Arabic on condition of anonymity, revealed on Thursday the details of the planned second stage of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon after an initial round in Washington, DC, in mid-April, which led to the current status quo of a ceasefire being declared but attacks continuing.
Delegation-level negotiations will begin on May 17 in the US capital, the official said, adding that the talks will address both security and political tracks to resolve issues of a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, borders, prisoners, displaced people and reconstruction.
The Reuters and AFP news agencies, both quoting an unnamed State Department official on Thursday, reported that the upcoming talks are due to be held May 14 and 15.
Israel continued to pound southern Lebanon on Thursday, killing one person and injuring several, according to Lebanese state-run media, a day after it targeted a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The strikes put pressure on the Lebanon ceasefire, which emerged in parallel with a US-Iran truce in the wider war in the Middle East. A halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon is a key Iranian demand in Tehran’s negotiations with Washington.
No peace agreement: Official
The Lebanese official told Al Jazeera that the country’s presidency has been seeking to discuss a final cessation of hostilities with Israel.
The expected step before May 17 is an extension of the truce and an Israeli commitment to a ceasefire, the official said, adding that the recent attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs was an Israeli message intended to obstruct the negotiation process.
Lebanon is not moving towards signing a peace agreement but towards a nonaggression pact, the official said.
The Lebanon ceasefire, announced on April 16 by US President Donald Trump, has led to a reduction in hostilities. The Beirut area, for example, was not struck by Israel for weeks before Wednesday’s attack.
However, since it went into effect, Israel and Hezbollah have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire in other areas, particularly in southern Lebanon.
More than 2,700 people have been killed in the war in Lebanon since March 2, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said. About 1.2 million people have been driven from their homes in Lebanon, many of them fleeing from southern Lebanon.
Israel has announced 17 soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon along with two civilians in northern Israel.
Q&A
What are the key issues being addressed in the upcoming US-Israel-Lebanon talks?
The talks will focus on Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, borders, prisoners, displaced people, and reconstruction.
When are the new negotiations between Israel and Lebanon scheduled to start?
Delegation-level negotiations are scheduled to begin on May 17, 2023, in Washington, DC.
What recent events have escalated tensions between Israel and Lebanon?
Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, resulting in one death and several injuries, following the targeting of a Hezbollah commander.
