Report: Aoun presses for ceasefire, atmosphere encouraging

Tuesday's talks between Lebanon and Israel will be "open and direct, not merely technical or formal, and will address the security of Israel's northern border," U.S. State Department sources told MTV.

"However, the core U.S. objective goes beyond this, reaching a fundamental question: Is the Lebanese state truly ready to restore its full sovereignty?" the sources asked.

MTV also reported that President Joseph Aoun continued his contacts with those involved in the negotiations until the early hours of morning, with an informed source describing the U.S. atmosphere regarding support for Lebanon's ceasefire request as "encouraging."

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, who is close to Speaker Nabih Berri, meanwhile told Al-Jadeed television that today's meeting in Washington is "a gateway to achieving a ceasefire, which is a priority."

Lebanese official sources told LBCI on Tuesday that the U.S. side is showing "great understanding of Lebanon's position," as to the talks with Israel, noting that "it raised its level of representation at the meeting with the Israeli side to that of the Secretary of State, reflecting the seriousness of the United States in dealing with the Lebanese issue."

"Today's meeting in Washington is dedicated to discussing a ceasefire and the results of today's meeting will not be final because this meeting is part of a long negotiation process," the sources said.

They also indicated that "we cannot determine what topics might be raised at the meeting because we are facing a direct meeting between the two parties."

"But as the Lebanese side, we leave the discussion of other issues that go beyond the ceasefire to the larger delegations that will manage the negotiations in the next phase," the sources added.