Israel-Lebanon talks kick off in Washington with US officials involved

Israeli and Lebanese delegations have arrived at the US State Department in Washington for a new round of direct negotiations, according to Al Jazeera.

The talks, which are scheduled to continue on Thursday and Friday, include diplomatic representatives from both countries alongside senior US officials.

One diplomat familiar with the discussions told Al Jazeera that negotiations began shortly after 9:00 AM am local time (13:00 GMT).

The meetings come amid continued tensions in the region and growing international efforts to prevent further escalation between Israel and Lebanon.

Washington has been playing a key role in mediating discussions between the two sides, with the talks expected to focus on regional security concerns and diplomatic efforts to stabilise the border situation.

The negotiations are taking place at the headquarters of the US Department of State and mark another attempt by the United States to encourage dialogue between the neighbouring countries.

Neither delegation has publicly commented on the agenda of the talks so far, but diplomats say the meetings are considered significant given the heightened tensions across the Middle East in recent months.