Lebanon, Israel to hold second round of direct talks: What we know
While Israel and Lebanon continue talks, Israeli airstrikes have persisted, and Hezbollah shows no sign of complying with disarmament requirements.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced on Thursday that a second round of talks with Israel will take place later this month, one day after Lebanese and Israeli officials held their first direct civilian-level talks since 1991.
What happened: Speaking at the opening of a Lebanese cabinet meeting on Thursday, Aoun said that the next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Dec. 19. Wednesday's talks "paved the way for upcoming sessions," the Lebanese president said in a statement that emphasized, "The language of negotiation should prevail over the language of war."
Aoun's confirmation followed a meeting Wednesday between officials from both countries in Naqoura under a mechanism established by the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Wednesday’s session, brokered by the United States, marked the first time the two sides held civilian-level talks since the Madrid Conference in 1991.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had said in a statement Wednesday that “the sides agreed to hold a follow-up discussion” but did not provide details on the timing.
