Lebanese President Aoun Seeks Ceasefire With Israel In Washington Talks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Lebanon hopes a ceasefire can be reached during upcoming talks in Washington between Lebanese, U.S., and Israeli representatives.

“Lebanese president hopes Washington meeting to lead to ceasefire with Israel #BREAKING In call with Israeli premier, German chancellor voices 'great concern' over Palestinian territories, saying 'de facto partial annexation of West Bank' must be prevented Lebanese president hopes Washington meeting to lead to ceasefire with Israel Lebanese and Israeli government envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday for talks aimed at securing ceasefire and launching direct talks Naeem Barjawi 13 April 2026•Update: 13 April 2026 BEIRUT, Lebanon / ISTANBUL Lebanese President Joseph Aoun voiced hope on Monday for reaching a ceasefire with Israel during a planned meeting in Washington on Tuesday”

Anadolu Ajansı

This marks the first direct contacts between Lebanon and Israel since 1983.

Anadolu Ajansı

Aoun stressed that there is a current opportunity for a lasting solution, but it cannot be one-sided.

He urged Israel to respond to Lebanese, Arab, and international calls to stop its attacks and enter negotiations.

Successive Israeli wars against Lebanon have not achieved their objectives since 1982.

Negotiations are being conducted exclusively by the Lebanese state because this is a matter of sovereignty in which Lebanon has no partner.

Israel launched an attack to seize the key south Lebanon town of Bint Jbeil from Hezbollah fighters.

The Israeli military completed its encirclement of the town and began a ground assault.

BBC

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported a strike on a Red Cross centre in Tyre, killing one person.

Heavy Israeli air strikes were reported across dozens of towns in southern Lebanon.

The weekend bombardment killed a Lebanese Red Cross rescuer.

Around 1.2 million people were displaced across Lebanon.

Hezbollah rejected the initiative and held protests in central Beirut.

“Israeli troops launched an attack to seize a key south Lebanon town from Hezbollah fighters holed up inside on Monday, pressing its war on the Iran-backed group on the eve of historic talks between Israeli and Lebanese government envoys”

CBC

The talks were taking place without any national consensus.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opposed negotiations before a ceasefire.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Lebanon was trying to reach a ceasefire through direct negotiations.

The Israeli embassy said the talks would constitute the start of formal peace negotiations.

The talks represented a potential turning point after more than five weeks of fighting.

Over 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than one million displaced.

Naharnet

Israel says it aims to occupy south Lebanon up to the Litani River.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported confrontations with Israeli troops.

Civilian suffering continued to mount as the conflict entered another week of sustained fighting.