Israel–Lebanon Conflict

U.S.-brokered talks in Naqoura marked the first direct, public Israel–Lebanon engagement since 1993, held on the sidelines of a U.S.-led monthly cease-fire monitoring mechanism and convening civilian envoys—including Lebanon’s Simon Karam and Israel’s Uri Resnick—after U.S. diplomats pressed both sides; discussions focused on economic projects to stabilize southern Lebanon. The meeting came amid sharp tensions — including a recent Israeli strike that killed a Hezbollah commander — as Lebanon, which says it is “far from” normalizing ties and reaffirmed the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, has deployed some 10,000 troops and 200 checkpoints in a phased disarmament plan while demanding Israeli withdrawals from contested outposts and seeking international aid after roughly $11.1 billion in war damage, even as Israel says Beirut is not doing enough to disarm Hezbollah.