Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that a ceasefire with Israel was crucial, as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations meet at the Pentagon.
– The president emphasized that a ceasefire is necessary to pave way toward “any other step,” a statement from the presidency said.
– Rubio reiterated the US administration’s support to Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty on all its territories as well as to its inalienable right to self-determination.
– During the phone call, Aoun and Rubio also discussed recent developments in Lebanon and the region.
– The Pentagon hosted the first round of a new military dialogue between Lebanon and Israel on Friday, despite continued Israeli strikes on what it says are Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.
– Friday’s meeting was part of a US-brokered track of direct negotiations between the two neighboring countries. The Trump administration launched the talks earlier this year, with Lebanese and Israeli envoys to Washington holding meetings at the State Department and the White House.