, April 15 -- Israel and Lebanon have held their first direct talks since 1993, with the United States brokering high-level discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire, though major obstacles remain, particularly Hezbollah's rejection of the process.

The meeting took place Tuesday at the US State Department in Washington, with Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter participating, reports Al Jazeera.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended, underscoring what officials described as the "historic" nature of the talks.

Washington said the engagement was "open, direct, high-level," and framed it as necessary amid escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.

Leb...