Call of the homeland
The Lebanese event was linked to a second day in Washington, without being affected by US President Donald Trump’s transfer of the global event to China over two days as well.
The third round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, under American auspices at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Washington, concluded with tangible diplomatic progress in Lebanon’s interest, according to the participating Lebanese delegation. The parties agreed to extend the current ceasefire for an additional 45 days, to make way for the launch of a security track under American sponsorship on May 29, with the participation of military delegations from Lebanon and Israel, as part of efforts aimed at establishing the calm and strengthening security arrangements on the border. Also to enhance the political momentum achieved over the past days.
The attendees agreed on a joint statement from the US State Department as a “unity of position,” in which Washington expressed its hope that “these discussions will contribute to achieving sustainable peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the establishment of real security along the common border.” American diplomatic sources indicate that Washington is testing a negotiating formula that is more ambitious than all of the above: pushing Lebanon and Israel towards a parallel political and security framework, while the issue of disarming Hezbollah turns from a postponed item, to the condition that determines whether diplomacy will advance, or will return to the logic of temporary truces and mutual strikes.
The US State Department spokesman described the tour as positive, exceeding expectations, and reflecting the seriousness of the progress recorded. He also stressed that the goal is to create space to complete this seriousness, despite the continuing confrontations and bombing in southern Lebanon and its territories, whether by Israeli raids or by marches from Hezbollah and its missiles. According to the US State Department, what was achieved on Friday is a tangible development that paves the way for a move towards a broader path.
Keep up with Baabda
The Republican Palace followed the rounds of negotiations at the ambassadorial level between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations, under the full sponsorship of the US State Department. President Joseph Aoun mobilized from the early morning, with a series of political and technical consultations, the beginning of which was a phone call with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, during which he put him in the atmosphere of Thursday’s round of negotiations, where Berri stressed the priority of a ceasefire, and informed Aoun that he would speak to “Hezbollah” if Israel complied. The President of the Republic also called the Prime Minister. Technically, he discussed the consultations with the support cell and specialists, and with the Lebanese delegation in Washington, to put them in the atmosphere of developments and convey to them the required instructions and directives.
What President of the Republic Joseph Aoun reported from Speaker Berri, during a phone call, indicated that Hezbollah will adhere to a complete ceasefire, if the Lebanese delegation is able to extract a similar commitment from the Israeli side, according to MTV information.
In this context, there was a meeting in Ain al-Tineh between Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in which they presented the general situation and political and field developments in light of Israel’s continued aggression against Lebanon, especially in the south and the western Bekaa, and its violation of the ceasefire.
Round of negotiations
According to sources for “Nidaa Al Watan”, the second evening session of Thursday night witnessed “back and forth” negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli sides, and this matter extended to the Friday session, and the discussion focused on two military and political aspects, as the Lebanese delegation stressed, for the second day in a row, to establish a ceasefire, not to target civilians, and to stop the bulldozing of villages and systematic destruction. On the other hand, the discussion touched on the “demand” to link the Israeli withdrawal with the withdrawal of Hezbollah’s weapons, and the delegation’s answer was The Lebanese newspaper said that the priority is a ceasefire, a truce, and ensuring Israeli withdrawal. As for the withdrawal of “Hezbollah’s” weapons, it is a Lebanese matter that is being discussed internally, and will happen after Israel’s complete withdrawal.
The sources confirm that communication between Baabda and the Lebanese delegation in Washington kept pace with all the details, amid additional confirmation from President Aoun of the Lebanese constants in the negotiations. In yesterday’s session, it was recorded that the discussion had reached a heated point, which prompted the American side to intervene several times to re-correct the discussion. While the atmosphere was not encouraging at the beginning of the negotiations, it improved after the American intervention, which sought to first reach a security agreement between Lebanon and Israel, and then enter into other details.
Washington atmosphere
According to the information, the US administration considers progress in the negotiations to be “important,” as it is no longer limited to establishing a ceasefire. It is trying to reach a “security agreement” and is looking into long-term security arrangements, especially an “actual ceasefire” in exchange for a “real” commitment from Hezbollah.
Negotiations in the shadow of war
On the security level, the Israeli army continued its military pressure, completely disconnecting from the course of the negotiations, and its planes raided most of the southern towns, in light of warnings issued by its army spokesman Avichai Adraee, especially to the residents of the city of Tire and the towns of its district. The Israeli aircraft also intensified its raids on Nabatieh and the towns of the district, causing more destruction and injuries, as it directly targeted the Health Authority – Civil Defense Center in Harouf, Nabatieh District, which led to the death of 3 of them. Paramedics, and a fourth paramedic was injured and in critical condition. The center was completely destroyed. It also raided the city of Tyre at night and targeted the building that threatened it at the Battle Junction at the northern entrance to Tyre, and then launched a second raid on the city center. The Lebanese Ministry of Health recorded the death toll at 2,951 dead and 8,988 wounded as of May 15, 2026.
