Trump Says Israel-Lebanon Leaders to Hold Talks, First in 34 Years

US President Donald Trump stated that leaders from Israel and Lebanon will hold talks on Thursday (16 April) local time. Trump claimed that the meeting between the leaders of the two countries would be the first in nearly 34 years.

However, Beirut authorities responded by saying they were “unaware” of any scheduled direct contact with Tel Aviv in the near future.

The plan for talks between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon, as reported by AFP and Reuters on Thursday (16 April 2026), was announced by Trump in his latest statement via his Truth Social social media account.

“Trying to give a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It’s been a long time since the two leaders spoke, about 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Good!” Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social on Wednesday (15 April) US time.

Trump did not specify who would represent Israel and Lebanon in the follow-up talks on Thursday (16 April). The location and format of the dialogue between the leaders of the two countries remain unclear.

This announcement comes after a rare direct meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington DC, US, on Tuesday (14 April) local time, to discuss ceasefire efforts amid escalating conflict.

That meeting marked the first direct negotiation between senior officials from the two countries since 1993.

Lebanon has been drawn into the Middle East war since 2 March, after Hezbollah, based in the country and supported by Iran, launched attacks on Israeli territory.

Since then, a series of Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over one million in Lebanon. Tel Aviv has also deployed ground forces to southern Lebanon near its border.

Calls for a ceasefire between the two sides have echoed internationally, particularly after the US and Iran, engaged in fierce war since late February, announced a two-week ceasefire from 7 April.

There was initial disagreement over whether the US-Iran ceasefire also applied to the fighting in Lebanon. Tehran and Pakistan, as mediators in the conflict, insisted the ceasefire included Lebanon. However, Tel Aviv and Washington denied this.

As a result, separate talks were held between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the US.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that in talks with Lebanon, Israel has two main goals: the dissolution of Hezbollah and sustainable peace “achieved through strength”.

Lebanon Admits Unaware of Follow-up Dialogue with Israel

Lebanese authorities, according to a Beirut official speaking to AFP, said they were “unaware” of any upcoming contact with Israel following the Washington DC meeting on Tuesday (14 April).

“We are not aware of any plan for contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of it through official channels,” the Beirut official said.

There has been no latest response from the White House on this matter.