Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon after facing mounting pressure from Trump’s administration. The post Israel to Hold Direct Talks with Lebanon After Facing Pressure from Trump Administration first appeared on Mediaite.

A third round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon kicked off in Washington Thursday, days before the expiration of a truce that reduced but did not stop the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The US appears to be pushing for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the Lebanese government says it won't happen while Israel continues to launch attacks on Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon hold their third round of talks today under U.S. auspices in Washington, D.C. The first two rounds were preparatory rounds to agree on the parameters for starting full-scale talks;

The U.S., not Iran, is in control of the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said Friday, adding, "We wiped out their armed forces, essentially." Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Friday that his country "cannot trust the Americans at all" and Iran is "trying to maintain" the "shaky" ceasefire "to give diplomacy a chance.

Under international pressure to engage in diplomacy after deadly strikes, Netanyahu says disarming Hezbollah will be focus of talks, said set to kick off next week in DC