Lebanese and Israeli envoys held their first preliminary meeting at the U.S. State Department in Washington on Tuesday, marking a rare diplomatic encounter between the two sides as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to intensify.

The talks brought together Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, and her Israeli counterpart, Yechiel Leiter, with the participation of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Senior American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counselor Michael Needham, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, were also present.

Shortly before the meeting began, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with Mouawad, reiterating his instructions and stressing Lebanon’s firm position that discussions should lead to a ceasefire, according to information reported by LBCI.

Speaking briefly to reporters, Rubio said the goal of the meeting was to begin outlining a framework for a potential peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon, while cautioning against expecting immediate results.

“This is a process, not an event,” Rubio said, adding that the effort would take time but was “worth this endeavor.” He described the talks as a “historic gathering” aimed at laying the groundwork for a more durable outcome.

Rubio also indicated that the discussions go beyond a ceasefire, pointing to the broader objective of addressing Hezbollah’s role in the conflict. He said the aim was to help bring about a lasting peace that would ensure security for both Israelis and Lebanese, while ending what he described as decades of instability linked to the group.

Lebanese officials, however, have emphasized that their delegation’s mandate is limited. According to Beirut, Mouawad is authorized only to discuss a ceasefire during the current round of talks.

Israeli officials have taken a different stance. Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Israel would not discuss a ceasefire, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said ahead of the meeting that negotiations should focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah. Saar said such a step was a prerequisite for any future peace agreement or normalization between the two countries, describing Hezbollah as a threat not only to Israel’s security but also to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Despite earlier expectations that the two envoys might exchange a handshake, no such gesture took place as they entered a private meeting room alongside U.S. officials. 

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Earlier, the Israeli army warned that Hezbollah could increase rocket fire toward northern Israel in the coming hours, urging civilians to remain vigilant while maintaining that no changes had yet been made to civil defense guidelines.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Aoun said in a statement that he hoped the Washington meeting would mark “the beginning of ending the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and the southerners in particular.”

“The only solution lies in the Lebanese Army redeploying to the internationally recognized borders, thereby becoming the sole authority responsible for the security of the region and the safety of its residents, without any partnership from any party whatsoever,” Aoun told Italian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Luciano Portolano.

The talks have drawn international support, with foreign ministers from 17 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, and Australia, urging both sides to seize the opportunity for direct negotiations. In a joint statement, they called for urgent de-escalation and said talks could pave the way for lasting security in Lebanon, Israel and the wider region.