Lebanon is counting on US pressure to push Israel to soften its position after the third day of the fifth round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Washington failed to yield a breakthrough.

The two delegations failed to agree on a declaration of intent, prompting the US State Department to extend the round by one day and schedule a fourth session for Friday.

The extension came after Lebanon’s cabinet on Thursday approved a mandate for the negotiating delegation to continue the talks.

The decision was backed unanimously by ministers, including those aligned with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, even as the “Shiite duo” continues to reject direct negotiations with Israel.

Thursday’s talks were the longest since the fifth round began, lasting 11 hours. They had been expected to end with a news conference, and journalists were invited in the evening.

But the event was canceled without explanation before the US State Department announced that negotiations would continue for another day, signaling that major differences remained.

Sources familiar with the talks said the extension followed a failure to agree on the final wording of the declaration of intent, despite discussions having reached the stage of detailed drafting.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon is insisting the declaration include core principles: affirmation of Lebanese sovereignty, recognition of the Lebanese army’s role in extending state authority, and a clear link between any field arrangements or “model areas” and a full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, along with the return of displaced people.

Israel, the sources said, remains firm. It is demanding security guarantees to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure and is refusing to include any clear commitment to a full withdrawal from Lebanese territory in the declaration of intent.

(2L/R) Israel's Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh attend a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese delegations hosted by the United States at the State Department in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2026. (AFP)