Israel and Lebanon held the fifth round of direct peace talks in Washington on Tuesday, according to Israeli media. Hezbollah and Iran are reported to be furious over the negotiations. The talks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts by the US to secure a permanent ceasefire and a framework for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
A new development in the fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks emerged late Tuesday, June 23: according to an Israeli media report, Hezbollah and Iran are furious over the ongoing negotiations. The report, aired by an Israeli news outlet, did not specify the source of the anger, but comes as the fifth round — which opened on Monday, June 22, at the State Department — continued on Tuesday with sessions on both political and military tracks, including a photo released by the Israeli embassy showing the talks underway.
The story of the fifth round has unfolded rapidly since Monday. At 20:28 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported the round's opening under U.S. auspices (version 8), followed minutes later by confirmation from the Israeli embassy and the first photo (versions 6 and 11). The same evening, a report noted the Lebanese delegation had arrived at the venue (version 5). Initially, the talks were described as addressing Hezbollah disarmament and an IDF withdrawal timeline — an agenda confirmed by President Herzog on Monday morning, who stated that Hezbollah's disarmament must be part of any solution. By Tuesday, the talks had progressed to a new round, with the focus still on the pilot zone and the IDF's presence. The Sunday night edition of The Zioneer (published Mon 20:28) also carried the embassy photo, showing the U.S.-mediated session.
As The Zioneer has reported since June 18, the backdrop includes U.S.-Iran negotiations reported to include terms for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and President Trump's call for a 'softer touch' toward Hezbollah. Lebanese officials have repeatedly stressed there is no going back on disarming Hezbollah, while Israel has maintained that military operations continue alongside diplomacy.
The extent of Hezbollah and Iran's fury remains unverified by official channels. No comment has been issued by either the Israeli or Lebanese delegations on the report, and the channel's source is unnamed. It is also unclear whether the anger reflects a specific development in the talks — such as progress on disarmament — or broader opposition to the process itself.
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