Lebanon's ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad called for a ceasefire during "constructive" talks on Tuesday with Israeli officials in Washington, she said in a statement.

Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon concluded in Washington on Tuesday, with Israel's envoy hailing a "wonderful exchange" and saying the two countries are "on the same side" in opposing Hezbollah.

President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that direct talks on Tuesday in Washington with Israel would lead to an end of the country's suffering after war erupted again between Israel and Hezbollah last month.

"I hope that the meeting in Washington... will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular," Aoun said in a statement, adding that "stability will not return to the south if Israel continues to occupy its lands."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Tuesday for Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as the first direct talks in decades between the two sides got underway in Washington.

The Israeli military warned Tuesday it expected a rise in attacks by Hezbollah targeting Israel's north, as Washington hosted Israeli and Lebanese officials for their first direct talks in decades.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington on Tuesday for the first direct peace talks between the two sides in decades.

Foreign ministers from 17 countries, including the UK, Tuesday urged Israel and Lebanon to "seize this opportunity" in a statement ahead of U.S.-mediated talks between the two sides in Washington.

Lebanon responded positively to the US administration's request for a talks' preparatory meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors after receiving a pledge from the U.S. to pressure Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, a Lebanese ministerial source said.

Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad will prioritize a single demand as Lebanon and Israel convene for their first direct diplomatic talks in decades this Tuesday in Washington: an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.

Hezbollah and ally Amal have refused negotiations under fire and Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem has called on Lebanon to cancel the talks, describing them as "futile," while Israel framed the negotiations around Hezbollah’s disarmament and a potential peace deal, without publicly committing to halting hostilities or withdrawing its forces from south Lebanon. It said it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Washington on Tuesday.

Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, has been instructed to reject any ceasefire request while negotiations with Lebanon continue, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Tuesday, citing sources