U.S.-brokered talks between Israeli and Lebanese military delegations at the Pentagon aim to enhance ceasefire enforcement and border stability amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah.
Israeli and Lebanese military delegations convened at the Pentagon on Friday morning, marking the beginning of a new U.S.-brokered initiative aimed at enhancing security coordination between the two nations. This effort is focused on preventing renewed escalations along the Israel-Lebanon border and reinforcing a fragile ceasefire established in mid-April.
A State Department official emphasized the importance of direct negotiations, stating, “As we have continuously stated, the only path to lasting peace is through direct negotiations between the two sovereign governments.”
The discussions signify a notable shift from traditional diplomatic negotiations to direct military coordination. Key topics are expected to include ceasefire enforcement, border stability, the Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, and the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in managing Hezbollah.
These talks come in the wake of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that was initially reached during a broader regional conflict linked to the U.S.-Iran war. Although large-scale fighting has diminished, Israeli forces continue operations in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah retains its drone and rocket capabilities, sustaining high tensions along the border.
The ceasefire was recently extended on May 15 for an additional 45 days, creating pressure on both parties to demonstrate progress before the current arrangement expires. Analysts have raised concerns about whether Lebanon can effectively curb Hezbollah’s military power without risking internal instability.
“This will be the first meeting between representatives of the militaries since the start of the negotiation process between Lebanon and Israel,” said Ahmed Sharawi, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. He noted that Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal is representing Lebanon in these talks. Haykal has previously commanded the LAF in southern Lebanon, an area where Hezbollah maintains a significant presence.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, complicates the situation further. Sharawi explained that the discussions are likely to focus on de-confliction and the expectations for the LAF regarding a broader disarmament plan targeting Hezbollah’s arsenal.
Despite the ongoing talks, Sharawi expressed skepticism about achieving a significant breakthrough as long as Hezbollah remains heavily armed and politically entrenched in Lebanon. “The biggest obstacle here is that the Lebanese state has yet to present a feasible plan to disarm Hezbollah,” he stated.
He pointed to the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, which placed the responsibility for disarming Hezbollah on the Lebanese government. “We are yet to see the confiscation of one single bullet from Hezbollah,” he added.
Sharawi also highlighted the challenges posed by Hezbollah’s strong support among Lebanon’s Shiite population, which complicates any attempts to normalize relations with Israel. “There’s a fear of a civil war,” he noted, explaining that this fear contributes to the Lebanese state’s reluctance to disarm Hezbollah.
The talks commenced as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israel intends to maintain military pressure on Hezbollah despite the negotiations. Sharawi argued that the Trump administration appears committed to advancing the process as part of a broader strategy to diminish Iranian influence in the region. “The reason behind these meetings is that President Trump is really trying to push for a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon,” he said. “Peace between these two countries could really undermine Hezbollah and its influence in Lebanon.”
Israeli analysts characterized the talks as more of a strategic signal to Hezbollah than a breakthrough in diplomatic relations. Yossi Kuperwasser, head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and former head of the Research Division of Israeli Military Intelligence, remarked, “The war between us and Hezbollah is continuing.” He noted that the Lebanese government does not have a monopoly on the use of force within Lebanon.
Kuperwasser cautioned that expectations for an immediate diplomatic breakthrough should remain low, but he emphasized that the talks themselves convey an important political message. “The purpose of these talks is first and foremost to send a message to Hezbollah and also to the Americans,” he said. “Both sides are prepared to sit together against Hezbollah and signal that they are moving, even if slowly, toward normalization between Israel and Lebanon.”
He further explained that Hezbollah has been politically and militarily weakened by the ongoing conflict and by growing discontent among Lebanese civilians affected by the fighting. “For years, Hezbollah portrayed itself as the defender of Lebanon,” Kuperwasser said. “Now many Lebanese see Hezbollah as responsible for the suffering Lebanon is experiencing.”
While Israel supports strengthening the Lebanese army, Kuperwasser noted that Beirut fears direct confrontation with Hezbollah could lead to another civil war. “The Lebanese government fears military action against Hezbollah would lead to civil war,” he said. “That fear shapes everything.”
The talks also occur amid increasing domestic pressure in Israel, where critics of Netanyahu have accused the government of pursuing a strategy of containment rather than seeking a decisive military victory over Hezbollah. During a visit to Israel’s northern front on Friday, Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River and were operating in multiple areas of Lebanon. “We are operating in Beirut, in the Bekaa Valley, across the entire front and striking Hezbollah hard,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s leadership is navigating the challenges of growing American pressure while balancing fears of internal instability and renewed sectarian conflict. Following Friday’s meeting, the Pentagon issued a statement indicating that Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby hosted the military delegations from Israel and Lebanon to initiate a security track supporting ongoing talks between the two nations.
The delegations engaged in productive military-to-military discussions focused on establishing practical frameworks for regional security and stability. The outcomes of these discussions will inform the Department of State-led political track, which is scheduled to reconvene next week.
The Department of War expressed its commitment to its strategic partnerships with both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity free from armed non-state actors. The Pentagon welcomed the commitment of both militaries to these historic efforts, viewing them as essential steps toward realizing President Trump’s vision for lasting peace in the Middle East.
The United States anticipates reconvening soon to continue the security track. Neither the Israeli Embassy in Washington nor the Lebanese Embassy in Washington immediately responded to requests for comment.