Lebanon, Israel Talk Diplomacy Amid Conflict

0:00It's April 16th. From coast to coast, this is U.S. News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. Fighting rages on in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, even as a shaky ceasefire holds with Iran. Lebanese President Joseph A.O.N. Straight up refused to call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Thursday. That refusal came up during a conversation A.O.N. had with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A government insider says Washington gets where Lebanon stands on this. Lebanese officials confirmed the chat with Rubio, but stayed silent on any Netanyahu talks. Netanyahu's team didn't comment either. Just this Tuesday, Lebanon and Israel had their first direct diplomatic talks in decades, right here in Washington after over a month of heavy clashes. Lebanon wants a full ceasefire locked in before more direct talks, and their pledging to disarm Hezbollah down the line. Tensions stay high, but these moves show diplomacy still in play amid the chaos.