New Delhi, April 14 -- Israel and Lebanon will hold their highest-level direct talks in more than 40 years in Washington on Tuesday (April 14), with discussions taking place at the US State Department.

The two sides were represented by their ambassadors to the US-Yechiel Leiter and Nada Hamadeh Moawad-with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to participate.

The talks, mediated by Washington, come at a critical juncture in the regional conflict.

The status of Hezbollah remains central to negotiations, with Israel framing the militant group as the primary obstacle to peace.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said: "Israel and Lebanon don't have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah."

He added that discussio...