Washington Hosts Peace Talks as Missile and Drone Attacks Persist in the Gulf Region
May 3, Kathmandu: For the past two days, representatives from Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in talks at the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. These negotiations aim to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese negotiators have expressed hope that the talks will halt the current attacks on their country. At present, Israel is conducting its most intense assault on Lebanon since the year 2000, while Hezbollah continues its attacks against Israel as well. According to Lebanese sources, Israeli attacks since March 2 have resulted in the deaths of 3,468 people in Lebanon. International media reports indicate that both sides appear interested in ending the war, though skepticism remains about the success of the agreement. The continuation of Israeli attacks during the recent talks is seen as a sign that the negotiations may fail.
In 2024, under mediation by the United States and France, Israel and Lebanon held talks that resulted in a 60-day ceasefire agreement on November 27. This agreement stipulated that Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah would not advance north of the Litani River. However, in 2026, the ceasefire fully collapsed following renewed attacks by Hezbollah and a strong Israeli military response. Previous negotiations have also failed despite attempts to reach a resolution. Although the demands of Israel and Lebanon differ, the Lebanese government remains committed to pursuing a ceasefire. Nonetheless, Israeli forces have continued missile and drone attacks on Lebanon throughout the ongoing discussions.
Israel has requested that Lebanon provide credible guarantees toward the disarmament of Hezbollah. Lebanon has agreed in principle but insists that Israeli forces first withdraw from its southern territory. Lebanese officials assert that if the troops withdraw, over 1.2 million displaced persons will be able to return home. Only after this withdrawal does Lebanon believe it can begin disarming Hezbollah and address reconstruction from the damage caused by Israeli attacks. Just last Friday, military representatives from Lebanon and Israel met for further dialogue. These talks occur directly between the governments of Lebanon and Israel, excluding Hezbollah, which remains at war with Israel and is backed by Iran.
According to Israel, both sides have agreed on the goal of disarming Hezbollah. Some Israeli officials have hinted that this progress might soon lead to trade agreements and tourist exchanges between the two countries. Lebanon, however, seeks to base any agreement on terms close to the 1949 armistice agreement. In the latest round, Lebanon presented detailed accounts of damages caused by Israeli attacks following the 2024 ceasefire. The conflict involving Iran-linked Hezbollah cannot be separated from the broader US-Iran tensions.
On February 28, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israeli military strike. Two days later, Hezbollah violated the ceasefire by launching six missiles at Israel. Hezbollah is considered Iran’s strongest proxy. Following this, Israel renewed its attacks on Lebanon, advancing beyond the self-declared buffer zone south of the Litani River toward the Zahari River in southern Lebanon. In recent negotiations with the United States, Iran has linked the issue of Lebanon to its own terms.
Iran has continued to respond actively. While talks between Israel and Lebanon proceed in Washington, Iran launched drone and missile attacks against targets in Kuwait and Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly executed attacks in the Gulf region on Tuesday night. In Kuwait, one person was killed and hundreds were injured in the assaults. In retaliation, the US military attacked an IRGC communications tower on Qeshm Island. The IRGC strikes drew strong condemnation from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. The UAE described the attack on Kuwait as an act of terrorism.
