Military officials join third Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington amid US push for a framework

The third round of Israel-Lebanon negotiations opens in Washington with military representatives taking part for the first time, as the US seeks a detailed framework before the end of a three-week ceasefire. Lebanon’s delegation is led by former ambassador Simon Karam and current envoy Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, while Israel’s includes Yechiel Leiter and Brig.-Gen. Amichai Levin; Washington is pressing Beirut to concede on a major step such as repealing Lebanon’s 1955 normalization law, against a backdrop of Iranian concerns and Hezbollah calls for a national referendum on direct talks.