Israel authorizes direct talks with Lebanondirect talks with Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 9, 2026, that he has authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon to focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations, with talks set to begin next week in Washington, D.C., mediated by the U.S. Israel will continue military strikes against Hezbollah and reject any ceasefire, despite U.S. pressure to de-escalate amid concerns over a fragile U.S.-Iran truce. The move responds to Lebanon's requests and aims to address the ongoing escalation that intensified after Hezbollah rocket attacks linked to Iran's leadership crisis.
- Hezbollah emerged in the 1980s during Lebanon's civil war as a Shia militant group.
- Washington has hosted prior indirect Israel-Lebanon talks under U.S. mediation.
- Lebanon's government has long called for Hezbollah to disarm but lacks full control.
Israel-Lebanon War
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a 60-day ceasefire that mandates Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys across all border crossings and the south.
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