Trump says Israel, Lebanon leaders to hold talks Thursday
US President Donald Trump says the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak on Thursday in what would be an unprecedented direct contact, though officials in both countries have yet to confirm any such plan. Trump’s comments came as Washington tries to ease hostilities after the first direct talks in decades between the two nations’ ambassadors, who met in the US capital this week. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah, the Iran‑backed armed group based in the country, launched attacks on Israel. Since then, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over a million, despite international calls for a ceasefire, while Israeli ground forces have pushed into the country’s south. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said he was “trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and […]