Israel, Lebanon to hold second round of talks in Washington on Thursday

Israeli and Lebanese representatives will hold ‌talks in Washington on Thursday, a United States State Department spokesperson and an Israeli source speaking on ​the condition of anonymity told Reuters ​on Monday. The US will host the ⁠second round of ambassador-level talks between ​the two countries at the Department of ​State, the State Department spokesperson said. Read More: Israeli soldier's desecration of crucifix in south Lebanon draws condemnation US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first round of ​talks between Israeli Ambassador to the ​US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanon's Ambassador to ‌Washington ⁠Nada Moawad, the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades, on April 14. "We will continue to facilitate direct, ​good-faith discussions ​between ⁠the two governments," the spokesperson said. The second round of talks ​will mark the first talks between ​the ⁠two countries since a 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday. Read More: Israeli military urges south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas Israel’s warning Israel on Monday told residents of south Lebanon to stay out of a belt of territory at the border and not to approach the area of the ‌Litani River, entrenching its grip over southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah. The US-mediated, 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday, largely halting the war between Israel and Hezbollah that spiralled out of the conflict between the US and Iran. But it remains fragile, with Israeli troops occupying territory deep in the south, aiming to create a buffer zone to shield northern Israel from Hezbollah attack, while the group says it maintains the "right to resist" Israeli occupation. Lebanese Parliament Speaker ​Nabih Berri told the pan-Arab Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Washington was making an effort to extend the ceasefire agreed by the Israeli and Lebanese governments, after he met the US ​ambassador to Lebanon.