Lebanon coordinates first round of negotiations with Israel following US-Iran truce

Lebanon is gearing up for crucial negotiations with Israel, scheduled to take place in Washington next week. This marks the first direct dialogue between the two nations since a preliminary peace agreement was reached between the United States and Iran. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met to finalize preparations for the talks, which will also involve American representatives. Lebanon's core demands include a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, the deployment of the Lebanese army along the international border, the return of Lebanese prisoners, and the commencement of reconstruction efforts. The Lebanese leadership views the recent US-Iran rapprochement as a positive development that could help reduce regional tensions and pave the way for peaceful resolutions. Despite previous attempts at dialogue in Washington during April, May, and June, a formal truce has not been achieved since hostilities began between Israel and Hezbollah on March 2. The Israeli military has continued its bombardment of southern Lebanon, resulting in thousands of casualties and over a million internally displaced persons since early March.