Lebanon

The move will likely be welcomed by Washington, which has long sought to reduce Iran's influence in Iraq and other countries in the Middle East where Tehran has allies.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the Israeli representative spoke directly with the Lebanese representative and that another meeting is expected to take place soon.

Israel and Lebanon are sending diplomats to the Naqoura ceasefire meeting for the first time, aiming to show movement in the stalled talks.

The talks come one year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israeli officials say is eroding.

The four individuals allegedly assassinated were customs department officers and journalists who pointed to Hezbollah's connection with the deadly explosion.

Pope Leo urged Lebanon's Christian, Sunni, Shi'ite Muslim, and Druze leaders to unite through respect and dialogue to heal the country after years of crisis.

The warning came a month after sources in the Northern Command told Walla that Israel was seeing an increased threat from the country.

Pro-Hezbollah media focused on the Pope's message of dialogue but fears the visit will be merely symbolic, failing to address the "real challenges" facing the country.

UNIFIL spokeswoman Candice Ardell told BBC News that Hezbollah supporters had often blocked the organization's convoys, accusing them of spying for Israel.

The Lebanese government's equivocation means that Hezbollah could yet survive in perhaps a more limited, but still highly dangerous, form.

The ceasefire is unsustainable. Lebanon’s government and armed forces are unwilling and unable to confront Hezbollah, making enforcement impossible.