The US is mediating between Lebanon and Israel, who are technically at war, to resolve the dispute RIYADH: Lebanon has launched the second licensing round for eight offshore oil and gas blocks after two years of delay. The government had agreed to launch the second round in April 2019 but it was postponed due to the pandemic, Bloomberg reported. The US is mediating between Lebanon and Israel, who are technically at war, to resolve the dispute over about 860 square kilometers of water. The deadline for applications is June 15, according to the Lebanese Petroleum Administration.