US President Donald Trump is set to meet Lebanese and Israeli envoys for peace talks on Thursday. The meeting, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, aims to secure a one-month extension of a ceasefire currently set to expire.
Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, intends to request an extension due to ongoing violence, including attacks on civilians and places of worship. Israel has stated it has no serious disagreements with Lebanon but calls for joint efforts against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is notably absent from the negotiations, as are Israeli-Palestinian talks, which were indefinitely extended by Trump earlier this month. The conflict between the two nations has been ongoing since 1993, resulting in over 2,450 deaths and one million displaced individuals following Israel’s major attack on Lebanon.
Under ceasefire terms, both sides reserve the right to act against planned or ongoing attacks. Hezbollah claims at least two attacks on Israeli troops in retaliation for ceasefire violations by Israel. The talks also include US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, an evangelical pastor known for his support of Israeli expansionism.