WASHINGTON – Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, described the preliminary meeting as “good and constructive.”

The United States expressed support for continued dialogue between the two sides. The US State Department said the tripartite meeting included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counsellor Michael Needham, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, the Israeli Ambassador to Washington, and Ambassador Moawad.

According to the statement, this was the first high-level, broad engagement between Lebanon and Israel since 1993. Participants reportedly discussed the continuation of direct negotiations during the meeting in a constructive atmosphere.

The US State Department said it hopes the talks will go beyond the 2024 framework and lead to a comprehensive peace agreement, stressing that any ceasefire arrangement must be reached directly between the two parties rather than through a separate track.

It added that the negotiations could pave the way for reconstruction assistance, economic recovery in Lebanon, and expanded investment opportunities for both sides, noting that all parties agreed to launch direct talks at a time and place to be determined later.

Lebanon, for its part, reiterated the urgent need to fully implement the Declaration on Cessation of Hostilities issued in November 2024. It stressed the principles of territorial integrity and state sovereignty, while calling for an immediate ceasefire and concrete measures to address the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, hostilities continued on the ground. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that an Israeli airstrike on the town of Ansariya in southern Lebanon killed five people. It also reported strikes near Qalila and the city of Bint Jbeil, as well as the demolition of houses in Hanin.

In response, the Israeli army said it had detected approximately 30 rockets fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel earlier in the day.