Lebanon, Israel to hold next talks in Washington June 23-25

The next round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel will take place in Washington from June 23 to 25, the U.S. State Department announced. This follows a phone conversation between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Lebanese President Michel Aoun.

During the call, Pompeo reiterated the U.S. stance on the need for Hezbollah's disarmament. He also affirmed American support for the Lebanese government's efforts to establish a fully sovereign Lebanese state that maintains peace with all its neighbors, according to a statement.

President Aoun, in his conversation with Pompeo, stressed that a comprehensive ceasefire must be secured for the talks with Israel to advance. The Lebanese presidency stated that Aoun thanked Pompeo for U.S. support but highlighted the critical need for Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory to cease through a comprehensive ceasefire. Lebanon views this as a fundamental basis for the progress of the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations planned for next week in Washington.