The three days of U.S.-sponsored military-technical talks between Israel and Lebanon ended in Tampa, Florida yesterday without any apparent resolution between the two sides. “No breakthrough has been recorded so far. There is intransigence in Israeli positions, while the Lebanese side is holding firm to its demands that steps must be reciprocal,” Lebanese military sources told The New Arab. They stressed that Lebanon could not be expected to fulfil its commitments unilaterally while Israel continued its attacks, bulldozing operations, demolitions, explosions and ground incursions.

“The Lebanese army is fully carrying out its duties, and all Israeli allegations against it are false,” the military sources said. They argued that Israel’s continuing attacks and violations were the main obstacles to the army’s deployment and the implementation of agreements, as had been the case following the ceasefire on 27 November 2024.