Overview
- Civilian delegates met at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura under a U.S.-chaired committee, with Lebanon’s Simon Karam and Israel’s Uri Resnick at the table and U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus in attendance.
- Israel framed the session as an initial attempt to lay groundwork for relations and economic cooperation, a characterization Lebanese officials rejected as they confined the talks to implementing the 2024 truce.
- Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon seeks a cessation of hostilities, the release of Lebanese detainees and a full Israeli withdrawal, reaffirming adherence to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
- The meeting unfolded as Israel maintains five southern outposts and carries out frequent strikes it says target Hezbollah’s rebuilding, fueling concerns of renewed escalation.
- Expanding the mechanism signals possible political and verification discussions, with Beirut saying it is open to checks on Lebanese army efforts to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.