Israel and Lebanon Leaders Set for Historic Meeting After 34 Years

The leaders of Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet this Thursday (April 16), marking their first direct high-level talks in 34 years. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the diplomatic breakthrough on his social media platform, Truth Social, late Wednesday.

“I am trying to create some relief between Israel and Lebanon,” Trump posted. “The leaders of the two countries have not spoken for a long time—almost 34 years. Tomorrow it will happen. Feels good!”

The meeting follows a significant escalation in regional tensions. On March 2, the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah resumed strikes on Israel amid a broader U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran. Since then, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have resulted in over 2,000 deaths and displaced more than one million people.

In recent weeks, Israeli forces launched ground operations in southern Lebanon, stating their intent to establish a "buffer zone" to secure their northern border. This upcoming meeting represents a critical attempt to reach a diplomatic settlement and halt the ongoing violence.