Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged from the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department today, concluding the first direct high-level diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon in more than thirty years.
The historic session brought together Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad for a face-to-face meeting brokered by the United States under the Trump administration.
Standing before a flurry of cameras following the meeting, Rubio characterized the session as a "historic opportunity" to redefine the security architecture of the Levant and the broader Middle East.
The Secretary noted that while the session was primarily preparatory, it established a formal framework for future negotiations intended to secure a permanent peace between the two neighboring nations.
These talks mark a significant milestone for current U.S. foreign policy, which has prioritized direct regional mediation to resolve long-standing conflicts and reduce the influence of non-state actors.
The meeting occurred despite ongoing hostilities on the ground, as the Israel Defense Forces continue operations against Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon today.
Hezbollah leadership in Beirut had previously urged the Lebanese government to cancel the summit, labeling the direct negotiations as a betrayal of the group's regional interests.
However, the Lebanese delegation, supported by President Joseph Aoun, proceeded with the meeting in hopes of establishing a sovereign future free from militia dominance and external interference.
The discussions reportedly focused on the long-term security of the Blue Line border and the restoration of Lebanese state authority over its entire sovereign territory.
Rubio emphasized that the peace process will require patience, telling reporters that today’s gathering was "a process, not an event" and aimed at ending decades of regional instability.
The diplomatic breakthrough comes as the United States maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports, part of a "maximum pressure" strategy overseen by President Donald Trump.
While a tenuous ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains in effect, the inclusion of Lebanon in a direct peace framework is seen as a priority for the administration.
International observers are closely monitoring the development, with several European nations issuing a joint statement today welcoming the start of this direct dialogue.
Secretary Rubio is expected to brief President Trump at the White House later this afternoon regarding the specific points of the framework established during the historic session.