Israel will enter direct talks with Lebanon on Tuesday in Washington, determined to secure the dismantlement of Hezbollah's military infrastructure, despite fierce opposition from the Iran-backed group.

The negotiations, hosted by the U.S. State Department, mark a rare diplomatic engagement between the two nations, which have no formal relations and have remained technically at war since 1948. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad are expected to attend the initial meeting, with Israel's former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer potentially leading follow-up discussions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized the talks with a clear focus: disarming Hezbollah and forging a lasting peace agreement.

"The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon," Netanyahu stated. Israel has rejected any ceasefire discussions involving Hezbollah, which it designates as a terrorist organization, and vowed to continue strikes against the group. On Saturday, Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon killed at least 10 people, including three emergency workers, targeting over a dozen sites.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem addressed the talks in a televised speech on Monday, urging Lebanon to cancel the meeting and calling it "futile." "We will not surrender… We will remain in the field until our last breath," Qassem declared, vowing to ignore any agreements reached without the group's involvement. A Hezbollah official echoed this, stating the group would not abide by outcomes from the U.S. talks.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam postponed a U.S. trip amid the tensions, while Hezbollah-affiliated lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah decried the negotiations as a violation of national laws that exacerbate divisions. Lebanon's government seeks a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from southern areas before broader talks, but Israel insists Beirut must enforce a state monopoly on arms south of the Litani River, a 2024 commitment it claims Hezbollah has violated.

The talks come amid the ongoing 2026 Lebanon war, which erupted on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, shortly after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion on March 16, occupying southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, demolishing bridges and villages in a buffer zone. Over 2,000 people have died in Lebanon, including civilians and militants, while Israel reports 13 soldiers and two civilians killed.

A U.S.-Iran ceasefire announced April 7 excludes Lebanon, per Israel, which launched major strikes killing over 350 on April 8 under Operation Eternal Darkness. President Donald Trump has pressed both sides to halt fighting, tying it to broader regional stability.

Challenges loom large. Lebanon's fragile government risks civil strife in confronting Hezbollah, which dominates Shiite areas and rejects disarmament as essential for defense against Israel. Israel aims to expand its security zone, while Hezbollah vows continued resistance. The outcome remains uncertain as military operations persist.