US hails ‘productive’ talks
But a US official called the meeting “productive”, adding that it will complement upcoming diplomatic discussions.
“Today at the Pentagon, I hosted military delegations from Israel and Lebanon for the security track supporting the ongoing peace talks between their two countries,” Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s second-in-command, said on X.
“We held productive military-to-military discussions which will inform the Department of State-led political track next week,” he said.
The Pentagon in a statement said it supports Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, “free of armed non-state actors,” and welcomed the commitment of both militaries to the negotiations.
Israel has continued its invasion and attacks on southern Lebanon and elsewhere despite a ceasefire that took effect April 17 and was extended for 45 days beginning May 17, following indirect talks mediated by the US.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 3,355 victims across the country.
Despite ongoing talks, Israel bombed three areas of Tyre in southern Lebanon on Friday killing 11 people including a rescuer and a Syrian national, the health ministry said.
Eight people were wounded, including another rescuer, the ministry said, slamming the attacks as a “flagrant violation of humanitarian law”.
