2 Mideast Leaders May Speak for First Time in Decades

It looks like a notable piece of Mideast diplomacy is at hand: The leaders of Israel and Lebanon will have direct talks for the first time in decades, President Trump wrote on Truth Social late Wednesday, reports CNBC. "Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon," wrote Trump. "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow." The talks would follow rare negotiations among lower-level officials from both nations and the US earlier this week, notes the New York Times.

Neither Israel nor Lebanon has officially confirmed, though Israeli Cabinet member Galia Gamliel told Israeli radio that Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Lebanese Joseph Aoun on Thursday, reports the BBC. The development comes amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that have driven more than a million people from their homes and left over 2,100 dead, according to Lebanese officials. Hezbollah's renewed attacks on Israel in March pulled Lebanon deeper into the wider Iran conflict and have complicated US-Iran peace efforts. Israel wants Lebanon to disarm militant groups including Hezbollah, while Beirut is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from its territory.