U.S., Lebanese and Israeli representatives meet at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 2, 2026. (Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Lebanese and Israeli officials met Tuesday at the U.S. State Department for another round of direct talks, as Israel and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire despite Donald Trump's assertion that both sides had agreed to de-escalate.
The fourth round of talks between representatives of the two countries, which do not have diplomatic relations, is scheduled to last two days.
The meeting is chaired by Michael Needham, the U.S. deputy national security adviser.
Participants include Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamade Mouawad and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, as well as Daniel Holler, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Lebanese delegation also includes diplomats Simon Karam and Wissam Boutros, and military attaché Oliver Hakmieh.
The Israeli delegation includes Deputy National Security Adviser Yossi Draznin, Amichai Levin, head of the strategic division of the Israeli military's planning directorate, and Defense Attaché Arik Ben Dov.
None of the officials made any statements.
The talks come as Hezbollah and Israel continue to exchange fire, despite Trump announcing an agreement Monday to halt attacks. Israel has continued its violations of the mid-April cease-fire through bombardment and its invasion into southern Lebanon, prompting Hezbollah to continue its attacks on northern Israel.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that "strength does not consist in waging war, but in having the courage and wisdom to end it through negotiations, taking into account the interests of the country."
Salam said it remained "necessary to consolidate the cease-fire throughout Lebanon."
"I reiterate that negotiations are the least costly option for Lebanon and the Lebanese people," he added.
"They constitute the shortest path to ending the occupation and allowing residents of the South to return to their towns and villages, provided all efforts are unified under the authority of the state."
Also on Tuesday, Israel said it obtained U.S. approval to strike Beirut's suburbs if Hezbollah continues to attack northern Israeli towns. Hezbollah has not attacked any northern Israeli localities since yesterday.
Recent weeks have seen a dramatic escalation in indiscriminate bombardment across southern Lebanon as Israeli invading troops continue to push deeper into the country.
Lebanon's health ministry said Tuesday that one of many Israeli strikes a day earlier near a hospital in the southern city of Sour killed four people and wounded 127 others, including 39 staff from the facility.
Since March 2, Israel has killed 3,468 people, including women and children, and injured 10,577 others in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry. The death toll rose by 35 people from the previous day.
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil