The United States will host direct peace talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, while Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon.
The two countries agreed to a 10-day ceasefire last week. Israel invaded Lebanon in March following attacks by Iranian ally Hezbollah amid the Iran war.
“The United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” the U.S. State Department said. “We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.”
These talks will take place at the State Department, the U.S. has said.
Delegations from Israel, Lebanon, and the U.S. will participate. Hezbollah has criticised the peace talks and has said it will continue to oppose the Israeli occupation through military resistance.
Israel has claimed it will continue occupying parts of Lebanon that lie within 10 kilometres of its southern border. Israel’s military has told residents to leave more than 70 villages in the area.
Both Lebanon and Hezbollah have called this a violation of the ceasefire deal, as the agreement says Israel will not continue offensive military operations against Lebanese targets in Lebanon’s territory.
According to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the talks are intended to negotiate an end to the Israeli military’s presence in Lebanon, and allow Lebanon’s military to deploy at the border.
The U.S. will send a delegation to Pakistan to attempt another round of peace talks with Iran this week, meanwhile. Iran has said that it has no plans to participate.
