Rubio says Israel-Lebanon peace possible 'tomorrow' if it weren't for Hezbollah

Israel and Lebanon could reach a peace agreement "as early as tomorrow" were it not for Hezbollah, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday, as Israeli and Lebanese officials opened a fourth round of talks in Washington.

"Israel and Lebanon could reach a peace agreement as early as tomorrow. Israel has no territorial claims in Lebanon. Hezbollah is the only obstacle and has in fact called for the overthrow of the current Lebanese government," Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

According to Rubio, Hezbollah remains the main impediment to stability in Lebanon because of its ties to Iran.

"The main obstacle for Lebanon is the fact that Hezbollah has become entrenched in the country and is the cause of much suffering, both today and historically. It is entirely funded and controlled by Iran. There is no Hezbollah without Iran," he said.

"There could be a political movement with an ideology, but it wouldn't have tons of rockets or weapons without Iran. They are a total and complete proxy of Iran."

Rubio also stressed Washington's desire to separate Israeli-Lebanese negotiations from broader talks involving Iran, an approach Tehran has rejected.

"What Iran wants to do is mix everything together. There is a government in Lebanon, and that's who we deal with. Hezbollah isn't its equivalent," he said.

He accused Iran and Hezbollah of trying to block any agreement between Israel and Lebanon in order to control the outcome.

"That's why, for example, Hezbollah agreed to a cease-fire about a week ago, only to violate it a few hours later," he said.

His remarks came as Israeli and Lebanese delegations met Tuesday at the State Department for a new round of direct talks, despite continuing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah. The two-day meeting brings together Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamade Mouawad and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, among other officials.

None of the participants made public statements after the opening session.

On Monday night, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised not to send troops into Beirut and that Hezbollah would "totally cease fire."

Rubio said Hezbollah's commitment had been conveyed indirectly through Lebanese officials.

"As early as Sunday, we received communications via the Lebanese government and the speaker of Parliament indicating that they would refrain from attacking Israeli territory if Israel did not launch further strikes on Beirut," Rubio said.

"So it came from Hezbollah, but through Lebanese authorities."

Asked about efforts to disarm Hezbollah, Rubio said the Lebanese state faces significant challenges.

"Lebanon's capabilities are not where they should be. But there are also elements within the Lebanese Army that aren't what they should be, because in some cases they cooperate with Hezbollah. So it's a very delicate situation," he said.

Rubio also claimed that the Lebanese government had attempted to expel Iran's ambassador.

"The Iranian ambassador responded: 'I'm not leaving, and you can't force me,'" Rubio said.

He further accused Hezbollah of seeking to undermine the Lebanese state.

"Just a week ago, Hezbollah openly called for the overthrow of the Lebanese government," he said. "So no one here should have the slightest doubt: Hezbollah isn't just an enemy of Israel and an enemy of America. Hezbollah is an enemy of Lebanon and of the Lebanese people."

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued despite the cease-fire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended following earlier rounds of negotiations.

According to Lebanese sources, Israeli strikes Monday night killed at least six people in southern Lebanon, bringing the day's death toll to 13.

Hezbollah said Tuesday it had launched a rocket attack on an Israeli tank in Haddatha and was continuing to resist what it described as the advance of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory.