Lebanon has sought to initiate direct peace negotiations with Israel through the Trump administration in a bid to end the ongoing conflict and secure a peace agreement, according to five sources familiar with the matter cited by Axios. 

The overture, however, has been met with skepticism and cool responses from both Washington and Jerusalem, the report noted.

Last week, the Lebanese government reached out to Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, requesting that he mediate talks with Israel, according to a U.S. official, an Israeli official, and three other sources with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Lebanon’s proposal reportedly included a claim that certain Hezbollah members might be receptive to a deal, the Israeli official said. In an unprecedented move, Beirut suggested convening immediate ministerial-level talks with Israel in Cyprus.

Barrack responded bluntly, according to one source: “Stop with the b*llshit” on disarming Hezbollah, adding that without concrete action on the group’s weapons, “there’s no point” in further discussions.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, rejected the outreach outright, signaling that they considered the request too late. Israel’s current priority, the sources said, is the elimination of Hezbollah as a military threat.

Inside Lebanon, Lebanese Army commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal has resisted government pressure to deploy troops against Hezbollah while fighting continues, sources said. His refusal has heightened tensions with Prime Minister Najib Salam and drawn bipartisan pressure in Washington on President Josesph Aoun to dismiss him, according to current and former U.S. officials.

Lebanon’s government is reportedly frustrated by what it sees as a lack of U.S. engagement. Without active American mediation, sources suggest, the prospects for meaningful talks remain bleak.

“There is no interest from the Trump administration to deal with Lebanon,” one informed source told Axios. “Nobody in Washington is taking their calls,” said a former U.S. official.

“The Lebanese government was warned and warned and warned this would happen if they don’t take action against Hezbollah,” added a third source, also a former U.S. official.