WASHINGTON: Israel and Lebanon have begun their fifth round of talks in Washington, DC, with discussions focused on improving security and working towards a more durable peace agreement between the two countries.
The negotiations are being hosted and brokered by the United States at the State Department. Delegations from Israel and Lebanon are participating in the talks, which began with limited details being released.
The latest round of discussions is expected to continue for three days, with US officials describing it as the next logical step in efforts to build a more stable relationship between the two countries.
The format of the negotiations is expected to remain similar to previous rounds, with discussions divided into two tracks — a military track and a political track.
The political track aims to stabilise relations between Israel and Lebanon and move towards normalising ties, as the two countries currently do not have formal diplomatic relations.
The military track focuses on reducing tensions, lowering the risk of escalation and preventing the United States from being drawn into a wider regional conflict.
Officials said the talks are aimed at addressing security concerns while creating conditions for a more lasting arrangement between Israel and Lebanon.