Israel says it wants "peace and normalization" with Lebanon ahead of talks in Washington

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country is seeking "peace and normalization" with Lebanon, as the two countries prepared to meet later Tuesday in Washington for their first direct talks in decades.

"We want to reach peace and normalization with the state of Lebanon," Saar said at a press conference. "Israel and Lebanon don't have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah," the Iran-backed militant group whose opposition is dampening hopes of any breakthrough at the talks.

Israel's ongoing military campaign in Lebanon is threatening to derail the fragile US-Iranian ceasefire agreement announced a week ago.