Lebanon and Israel held new peace talks in Washington on Thursday, as their ceasefire, which began on April 17, nears its end. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli military actions have resulted in over 400 deaths in Lebanon, including many civilians. Israel's military reported strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar condemned the talks as 'free concessions' to Israel. The discussions, which began at 9:00 am (1300 GMT), follow a previous meeting in April where US President Donald Trump expressed optimism for a peace agreement. However, the anticipated summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun did not materialize due to Aoun's demands for security guarantees. The US mediators include ambassadors from both countries, aiming to establish a comprehensive peace contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah and restoration of Lebanese state authority. The ongoing conflict has led to more than 2,800 deaths in Lebanon since March, with a significant impact on the region's stability and the global economy.