A third round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon has kicked off in Washington, DC, days before the expiration of a “ceasefire” that hardly halted Israeli attacks and Hezbollah’s response to them. The talks , which began on Thursday, represent a step towards more serious negotiations, with higher-level envoys from Lebanon and Israel taking part after the initial preparatory sessions were headed by the ambassadors of the two countries to Washington. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 What does the US hope to achieve from Lebanon-Israel talks? list 2 of 3 12 killed by a series of Israeli strikes on cars in Lebanon list 3 of 3 Iran war day 76: Vance says progress made in talks; Israel pounds Lebanon end of list Lebanese officials are hoping that the two-day negotiations will yield a new ceasefire deal and pave the way for tackling a series of thorny issues, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.…