Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday the US hoped talks between Lebanese authorities and Israel would lead to a strong Lebanese government and see the Hezbollah terrorist group disarmed.
"We are hopeful that talks between Lebanese authorities and Israelis will create outlines and a way forward that prevents further conflict," Rubio told a press conference.
The committee overseeing the Hezbollah-Israel truce in Lebanon focused on how to return displaced people to their homes, addressing civilian issues to help prevent renewed war if a year-end deadline to disarm Hezbollah is not met.
The 15th meeting of the committee reflected a long-standing US push to broaden talks between the sides beyond monitoring the 2024 ceasefire, in line with President Donald Trump's agenda of cementing peace deals across the volatile Middle East.
Israel has publicly urged Lebanese authorities to fulfill a commitment under the truce to disarm Hezbollah, warning that it would act "as necessary" if Lebanon does not take steps against the Iran-aligned proxy terror group.
At Friday's meeting in the southern Lebanese coastal town of Naqoura, civilian participants discussed steps to support the safe return of residents displaced by the 2023-24 war and to advance economic reconstruction, the US Embassy in Beirut said.
Addressing Hezbollah's weapons, disarmament
A source familiar with the discussions told Reuters they also addressed disputes over how to limit weaponry south of the Litani River and deploying the Lebanese army into Hezbollah's stronghold region.
The Lebanese and Israeli participants agreed that durable political and economic progress was essential to reinforcing security gains and ensuring long-term stability and prosperity, the US Embassy added in a statement.
The committee added that a strengthened Lebanese army, which participants described as the guarantor of security south of the Litani River but was for many years outgunned by Hezbollah, was critical to sustaining stability.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed the priority of returning residents of border villages to their homes, a presidency statement said, adding that the committee would reconvene on January 7.
A source familiar with the details of the Naqoura meeting told i24News that another meeting is expected in the first half of January.
Lebanon and Israel have been officially enemy states for more than 70 years. Since the US-brokered truce, the two sides have traded accusations of violations while Israel has continued to carry out strikes that have killed hundreds, saying it is targeting Hezbollah attempts to rebuild military capabilities.
At the committee's December 3 meeting, the first including civilians from both sides, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he hoped civilian participation would help defuse tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the atmosphere at the meeting was good and that the sides agreed to put forth ideas for economic cooperation, but that Hezbollah must be disarmed regardless.