Israel and Hezbollah Hold Direct Talks in Washington Amid Ongoing Fighting
As Israel and Hezbollah continue to clash, representatives from both sides are holding direct talks in Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the armed group is the only obstacle to a peace deal. President Trump announced a brokered agreement, but Hezbollah has rejected a partial ceasefire.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 09:35
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(Central News Agency, Beirut, June 2, Combined Foreign Reports) Amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, representatives from Lebanon and Israel are holding direct talks in Washington. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the armed group is the only obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), U.S. President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he had brokered an agreement. The Lebanese Embassy in Washington stated that the agreement would initially cover a ban on Israeli attacks on Beirut and a ban on Hezbollah attacks on Israeli territory, with the scope to be gradually expanded.
Israel has been fighting Hezbollah since the group attacked Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, drawing Lebanon into the wider Middle East war.
Neither side has publicly accepted the agreement proposed by Trump. Hezbollah senior official Mahmud Qomati said in a written statement that the group "will not accept a partial ceasefire."
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel carried out airstrikes on about 30 locations in the south today, with some attacks causing casualties.
Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli forces in occupied southern Lebanon but did not acknowledge launching attacks on Israeli territory.
The Israeli military said it successfully intercepted two projectiles fired from inside Lebanese territory.
Amidst this, Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are in Washington for the fourth round of direct negotiations.
Secretary Rubio said at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "Israel and Lebanon could reach a peace agreement tomorrow."
He added: "Israel has no territorial claims on Lebanon. Hezbollah is the obstacle."
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on social media platform X that after the first day of talks, both sides "continue to make progress on political and security issues." The next round of talks is expected to be held tomorrow.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that despite strong opposition from Hezbollah, the talks are "the least costly option" for Lebanon. (Editor: Liu Wenyu) 1150603
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), U.S. President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he had brokered an agreement. The Lebanese Embassy in Washington stated that the agreement would initially cover a ban on Israeli attacks on Beirut and a ban on Hezbollah attacks on Israeli territory, with the scope to be gradually expanded.
Israel has been fighting Hezbollah since the group attacked Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran, drawing Lebanon into the wider Middle East war.
Neither side has publicly accepted the agreement proposed by Trump. Hezbollah senior official Mahmud Qomati said in a written statement that the group "will not accept a partial ceasefire."
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel carried out airstrikes on about 30 locations in the south today, with some attacks causing casualties.
Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli forces in occupied southern Lebanon but did not acknowledge launching attacks on Israeli territory.
The Israeli military said it successfully intercepted two projectiles fired from inside Lebanese territory.
Amidst this, Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are in Washington for the fourth round of direct negotiations.
Secretary Rubio said at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "Israel and Lebanon could reach a peace agreement tomorrow."
He added: "Israel has no territorial claims on Lebanon. Hezbollah is the obstacle."
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on social media platform X that after the first day of talks, both sides "continue to make progress on political and security issues." The next round of talks is expected to be held tomorrow.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that despite strong opposition from Hezbollah, the talks are "the least costly option" for Lebanon. (Editor: Liu Wenyu) 1150603