First Day of Lebanese-Israeli Talks in Tampa Concludes

The first day of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Tampa, Florida, concluded after about six hours and will resume on Wednesday, with no statement yet from the US State Department. The Washington-sponsored talks were limited to the technical military aspect, with no progress on Lebanese demands, especially halting military operations in southern Lebanon. They coincided with Israeli accusations that the Lebanese army was failing to curb Hezbollah, which the army denied in a statement, amid continued Israeli attacks on southern towns. Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar said the negotiations aim to ensure Israel's withdrawal and restore Lebanese sovereignty.