Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak for the first time in 34 years. Posted to Truth Social, the announcement follows direct diplomatic talks between ambassadors in Washington. Israeli forces are simultaneously pushing deeper into Lebanese territory.
Trump described the goal of the communication as an effort to get “a little breathing room” between the two nations. Gila Gamliel, a member of Israel’s security cabinet, told Israel’s Army Radio that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The two countries have not held leader-level talks since the early 1990s, a period when the geopolitical alignment of the Levant was fundamentally different.
Lebanese officials told news agencies they have no information regarding upcoming contact with Israeli leadership. Reporting from Beirut, Zeina Khodr described the U.S. president’s remarks as controversial, calling the idea of such a conversation a “taboo” while the two countries remain technically at war and Israeli strikes continue.
Trump announced Israeli and Lebanese leaders will talk Thursday
The proposed dialogue comes as the U.S. administration attempts to separate the Lebanese front from the broader conflict with Iran. While Trump’s social media post was optimistic, neither the Israeli nor the Lebanese governments issued official confirmations of the scheduled call.
Netanyahu has maintained a dual-track strategy. He ordered the military to expand its southern invasion toward the east while simultaneously pursuing negotiations with the Lebanese government. The Prime Minister stated that Israel wants to disarm Hezbollah to achieve a “sustainable peace” with its northern neighbor.
How the conflict escalated after the death of Ali Khamenei
Lebanon entered the current war on March 2, triggered by Tehran-aligned Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel. Hezbollah claimed these strikes were retaliation for Israel’s killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, the first day of the war.
Hezbollah also cited Israel’s near-daily violations of a ceasefire agreed upon in November 2024. In response, the Israeli military launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon to seize territory and establish what it calls a “buffer zone.”
Under the latest Senate vote, Trump retains full authority over Iran
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic measure for a fourth time that would have prohibited Trump from taking further military action in Iran without congressional approval. The war powers resolution failed in a 47-52 vote, falling largely along party lines.
Only Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted for the measure among Republicans. Conversely, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the sole Democrat or independent to vote against it. Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) missed the vote.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) vowed that Democrats will continue to introduce the resolution. He stated on MS Now that his colleagues intend to hold Republicans accountable by bringing the measure back as early as next week.
What the Lebanese government expects from a ceasefire
The Lebanese government, which is not a direct party to the conflict, is seeking a complete ceasefire. Officials have called for the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
The tension between Trump’s public optimism and the ground reality in Beirut suggests a steep climb for any diplomatic breakthrough. If the talks proceed, they will represent the first formal bridge between the two heads of state in over three decades.
Why did Hezbollah begin attacking Israel in March?
Hezbollah launched rockets on March 2 to retaliate for Israel’s killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. The group also cited repeated Israeli violations of a November 2024 ceasefire.
Which leaders are expected to participate in the talks?
According to Gila Gamliel of Israel’s security cabinet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.