India, April 15 --  In a rare diplomatic development, Lebanon and Israel held their first direct talks in decades in Washington, D.C., even as tensions escalated with fresh attacks from Hezbollah. The meeting, facilitated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was described as a "historic opportunity," though officials cautioned that meaningful progress may take time. The talks came after more than a month of hostilities and raising hopes for de-escalation while underscoring the fragility of regional stability.

First Direct Talks After Decades of Conflict

Lebanon and Israel have technically remained in a state of war since Israel's founding in 1948. The Washington meeting marked their first high-level direct engagement since 1...