Israel and Lebanon plan first direct talks since Iran war began

Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz, which cited two sources familiar with the matter. If confirmed, it would be the first such meeting since the start of the war with Iran, a conflict that has drawn Lebanon deeper into the fighting.

The talks could take place in Paris or Cyprus. According to the report, the Israeli delegation will be led by Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Jared Kushner, the son in law of US President Donald Trump, is expected to take part.

Discussions are expected to focus on ending the fighting in Lebanon and on the disarmament of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah began shelling Israel on 2 March, saying the attacks were retaliation for the killing of Iran’s top leader at the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran.

Since then Israel has launched a large scale bombing campaign against the powerful Lebanese armed group. The fighting has killed more than 770 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets across the border into Israel.

(Reuters, Luc)