Diplomacy Under Fire: Can Lebanon PM Nawaf Salam Secure Peace Deal In US As Israeli Strikes Continue?

Last Updated:April 10, 2026, 16:08 IST

Israel has reportedly sought a short-term extension from the US to continue its targeted military operations in Lebanon before any formal sit-down begins

The fragile landscape of West Asian diplomacy has shifted towards Washington, as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reportedly prepares for an emergency journey to the United States. According to Lebanese government sources, the visit follows an unexpected proposal from Israel for direct negotiations to end the escalating conflict. This potential diplomatic breakthrough arrives in the thick of a paradoxical “war under fire", where Israel has reportedly sought a short-term extension from the US to continue its targeted military operations in Lebanon before any formal sit-down begins.

Why is Prime Minister Nawaf Salam travelling to Washington now?

The decision for Prime Minister Salam to visit Washington comes after Israel formally requested direct negotiations with the Lebanese state—a significant pivot from the indirect mediation that has characterised decades of hostility. Until now, Beirut had insisted on a comprehensive ceasefire as a prerequisite for talks. However, the sheer intensity of recent hostilities, including a massive wave of strikes on Wednesday that reportedly killed over 300 people, has created an urgent necessity for a diplomatic channel.

The White House, led by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, has been positioning itself as the primary broker for the “Islamabad Accord" between the US and Iran. While that broader regional truce was announced earlier this week, its application to Lebanon remains a point of fierce contention. Prime Minister Salam’s visit is seen as an attempt to harmonise these conflicting narratives and establish a sovereign Lebanese voice in negotiations that Israel insists must focus on the total disarmament of Hezbollah.

What are the conditions surrounding the proposed negotiations?

Despite the move towards the boardroom, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly stated that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon", asserting that talks will be held “under fire". This hardline stance is coupled with reports that Israel has asked Washington for a window of a few extra days to complete specific operational objectives against Hezbollah infrastructure.

The Lebanese presidency, under Joseph Aoun, has maintained that a formal cessation of hostilities is the “only solution" to prevent internal strife. The friction between Lebanon’s demand for an immediate truce and Israel’s insistence on “negotiating while operating" is expected to be the central deadlock for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the American mediating team.

How does the Lebanon conflict relate to the US-Iran ceasefire?

A major diplomatic rift has emerged regarding the scope of the two-week ceasefire brokered in Pakistan. Iranian officials and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have claimed the truce is universal and includes Lebanon. Conversely, the US and Israel have maintained that the agreement is bilateral and does not provide a shield for Hezbollah.

As the temporary regional ceasefire is set to expire on April 21, the pressure on the upcoming Washington talks is immense. The international community is watching closely to see if the “Washington track" can decouple the Lebanon issue from the broader Iran conflict or if the continuing military escalation will scuttle the peace process before the Lebanese delegation even touches down.

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