Lebanon and Israel are set to hold a further round of peace talks in Washington starting Thursday, with the current ceasefire nearing its end. Multiple outlets report that the truce began on 17 April, following fighting that began in early March, and that delegations are scheduled for what is described as a third round of negotiations. Several reports say the ceasefire is considered still in place despite ongoing Israeli strikes, but it is due to expire in the coming days.
While negotiations are planned, Israeli airstrikes continue in southern and eastern Lebanon. Lebanese officials and state media report deaths from recent attacks, with one report citing 22 killed on Wednesday, including eight children, and saying strikes hit dozens of locations. Other coverage cites higher overall casualty figures during the ceasefire period, including deaths of children, based on Lebanese authorities and international tallies. In parallel, Hezbollah officials characterize the talks in Washington as a “dead end,” according to one report. Israel also issues evacuation warnings in some areas affected by strikes, as reported by one outlet.
