Issa after meeting Aoun: Yesterday's events must not expand further

U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa met Monday with President Joseph Aoun, as Israel and Iran traded fire after Israel's bombing of Beirut's southern suburb.

Issa said the U.S. places great importance on Lebanon and has decided that Sunday's events must not expand further. "What happened yesterday is a political message, and we in the United States have decided that the confrontation must not expand any further," Issa said after meeting Aoun.

He said he discussed with the Lebanese president the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations and praised Lebanon's negotiating team, noting that it "displays a high level of professionalism."

Issa said U.S. President Donald Trump "always talks about Lebanon" and that negotiations are scheduled to resume in Washington.

Issa later met with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam who re-iterated in the meeting that "no one can negotiate on behalf of Lebanon except the Lebanese state."