Military delegation refuses photo with Israelis out of respect for fallen soldiers

A Lebanese military delegation refused Wednesday to take a commemorative photo with an Israeli delegation as they met in Washington.

A military source told LBCI that the delegation took into consideration the feelings of the Lebanese people who lost their homes and loved ones in the war.

Over 4,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began in March, two days after the Iran war started. Several Lebanese soldiers are among those killed, although the Lebanese army did not participate in Hezbollah's war with Israel.

The success of the negotiations depends on the achieved results and not on commemorative photos, the military source told the television network.

Lebanese officials began direct talks in April with Israel in Washington, with a new round of talks having started on Tuesday as Lebanese authorities seek to separate the negotiations from the U.S.-Iran deal.

"The blood of the martyred soldiers killed in deliberate Israeli attacks has not yet dried," the source said, adding that "the widespread destruction across various Lebanese regions demands utmost consideration for the feelings of the Lebanese people and deep respect for the sacrifices made to defend the nation."