Tue, April 14, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC
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Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said Lebanon agreed to push back and “no longer be occupied by Hezbollah” in what he called a “a victory for sanity, for responsibility and for peace.”
“What gives me hope is the fact that the Lebanese government made it really clear that they will no longer be occupied by Hezbollah,” Yechiel Leiter told reporters Tuesday following the historic meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese diplomatic representatives.
Also in the news: U.S., Iranian Teams Could Return To Islamabad For Peace Talks This Week: Reuters
“This was a victory for sanity, for responsibility and for peace because the head of Hezbollah warned the government of Lebanon not to participate in these talks, and the government of Joseph Aoun bravely said no to Hezbollah,” he said of Lebanon’s president and the Iran-backed armed group. “And this is the beginning of a very strong, and fortified, consistent battle against Hezbollah.”
There was no immediate comment on the meeting from the Lebanese ambassador, Nada Moawad.
Leiter said a joint statement will be released.
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