Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanon as the two sides start military talks at the Pentagon
Israeli troops advanced into the southern Lebanese village of Dibbine on Friday, killing at least six civilians in airstrikes, as Lebanese and Israeli military officials held direct talks at the Pentagon to discuss regional security. The talks, described as productive, focused on ceasefire implementation and border stability, while Hezbollah remained excluded from negotiations and continued hostilities persisted.
Israeli forces entered the Lebanese village of Dibbine near Marjayoun early Friday, deepening their military presence in southern Lebanon. The advance followed airstrikes that killed six people: five in Deir Qanoun al Nahr and Abbasiyeh, and one municipal policeman in Ebba, according to Lebanese state media. In Washington, a Lebanese military delegation led by Brig. Gen. George Rizkallah met with Israeli officials at the Pentagon for the first direct military talks between the two nations in decades. The Pentagon called the discussions productive, emphasizing frameworks for regional security and stability, though no specific outcomes were announced. The talks aim to inform broader negotiations led by the U.S. State Department next week. A nominal ceasefire has been in place since April 17, but Lebanese officials stressed the need for comprehensive implementation, including reactivating a U.S.-brokered monitoring committee from late 2024. They also proposed future discussions on deploying the Lebanese army along the border and withdrawing Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Israeli military warnings led to evacuations in southern Lebanon, displacing hundreds of families. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the primary target of Israel’s operations, remains excluded from the talks and has rejected their results. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the situation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing ceasefire implementation as the priority for further progress. The latest escalation follows months of cross-border clashes, with Israel and Lebanon holding their first direct talks in Washington in April. The ongoing violence and stalled negotiations highlight the fragile state of the conflict, as both sides seek to stabilize the border amid persistent tensions.
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