Israeli and Lebanese leaders to speak for first time in decades, Trump says

“Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. “It will happen tomorrow. Nice! President DJT,” added the American leader.

Israeli and Lebanese officials last engaged in direct, U.S.-backed talks following the 1982 First Lebanon War, culminating in the May 17 Agreement. The pact was the closest the two nations have ever come to a formal peace deal, but it was never fully implemented and was formally canceled by Beirut in 1984.

Trump did not specify which leaders would take part, whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun or Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

However, Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel, a member of Netanyahu’s Cabinet, told Army Radio that the premier would be speaking with Aoun.

After an anonymous Lebanese source told AFP on Thursday morning that Beirut was “not aware” of any upcoming contact with Israel, the country’s Al-Jadeed TV station reported that efforts were underway to arrange a trilateral call between Netanyahu, Aoun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and suicide drones at Israel from Lebanon last month in retaliation for the Jewish state’s targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening strikes of “Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic on Feb. 28.