The United States is hosting a third round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, DC, as efforts continue to avoid a wider conflict along the border. The discussions are being held at ambassador level and do not include top leaders from Israel, Lebanon or the US. Since the two countries do not have official diplomatic relations, the talks are focused on creating space for peaceful negotiations. US officials say they are optimistic about the meetings. The main goal is to stop tensions from growing into a larger regional war. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon is expected to expire on Sunday, making the talks especially important. Officials are expected to focus on extending calm and preventing more violence along the border. Meanwhile, international criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza continues to grow. Protests linked to the conflict have also appeared in sports and cultural events around the world.