Israel, Lebanon agree to hold talks on border disputes after meeting on issue in southern Lebanon

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to hold talks on a number of issues including the IDF’s continued presence in five locations in southern Lebanon, and various border disputes, the Prime Minister’s Office says.

The decision to hold the talks was made during a four-way meeting held in southern Lebanon between the IDF, the United States, France, and Lebanon, the PMO says.

At the meeting in Naqoura, the sides agree to establish three joint working groups to focus on various issues. The first will look at the five points that Israel still occupies inside of Lebanon; the second will examine the Blue Line that marks the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon and the areas still under dispute; and the third will focus on Lebanese citizens held by Israel.

At the same time, Israel has agreed to release five Lebanese detainees as a “gesture to the new Lebanese president,” Joseph Aoun, says the PMO, adding that the release has been coordinated with the US.