Israel and Lebanon are reportedly set to hold face-to-face peace talks in the coming days to seek an off-ramp to the fighting across their border that began with the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah launching missiles against the Jewish state on March 2.
In response to Hezbollah’s attack, Israel launched a massive wave of strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, where the designated foreign terrorist group is based. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will lead the delegation of the United States in the talks, according to reports.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz first reported the expected talks, citing confirmation from two sources familiar with the discussions. Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios on Friday that Israel was planning an expansive ground operation in Lebanon. “We are going to do what we did in Gaza,” an Israeli official told the outlet.
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The news and the escalation of evacuations from Lebanon led several world leaders to step in and renew calls for peace between the two neighboring countries. French President Emmanuel Macron offered to hold peace talks between Israel and Lebanon in Paris, writing on X, “everything must be done to prevent Lebanon from sinking into chaos.”
“The Lebanese executive has signaled its willingness for direct discussions with Israel,” Macron said. “Israel must seize this opportunity to launch talks and a ceasefire, find a lasting solution, and allow Lebanese authorities to fulfill their commitments in support of Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Paris has drafted a proposal to end the war in Lebanon by having the country recognize Israel, according to Axios. The U.S. and Israel are currently reviewing the plan.
Hezbollah and Israel have launched a series of air and missile attacks at each other over the past two weeks. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled their country in exodus while the war rages and Israeli officials urge evacuations.
The Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday that they have launched over 1,100 strikes in Lebanon and taken out over 380 Hezbollah terrorists as part of their Operation Roaring Lion. But earlier this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the strikes have killed over 400 Lebanese citizens, as he railed against both Israel and Hezbollah for what he called their “attempt to corner” his country.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has also called for diplomacy as a means to end the violence, voicing concern over the humanitarian state of the Lebanese civilian evacuees.
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“Stop the fighting. Stop the bombing. There is no military solution, only diplomacy, dialogue and full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions,” Guterres said.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the White House for comment.