Summary US President Donald Trump said the leaders of the two countries would speak on Thursday, but Labanopn showed unawareness.
(AFP) - Lebanon is "not aware" of any upcoming contact with Israel, an official source told AFP, after US President Donald Trump said the leaders of the two countries would speak on Thursday.
"We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of any through official channels," the source said.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social network earlier that Washington was "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. It will happen tomorrow."
"The president would welcome the end of hostilities in Lebanon as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"The United States wants to see a durable peace but did not demand an immediate ceasefire," and "negotiations between the US and Iran are not linked to ongoing peace talks between Israel and Lebanon," according to the official.
Washington's focus is on building trust between the Lebanese and Israeli governments "so that we can create space for a peace deal, and so that any future understandings can be durable."
"Both sides need to build political momentum," the official added.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed-upon time and place following a trilateral meeting hosted by the United States in Washington.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 2,100 people and displaced over one million since March 2, despite international calls for a ceasefire.
Israel has also carried out a ground invasion in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Israel resumed fighting following the killing of Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an Israel-US attack on February 28.
