Israel Agrees to Lebanon Talks While Continuing Attacks on Hezbollah
Key Takeaways
- Israel and Lebanon will hold US-mediated talks in Washington on April 14.
- Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, including Nabatieh, causing casualties.
- No ceasefire as talks proceed; Israel continues attacks against Hezbollah.
Israel-Lebanon Talks
Israel and Lebanon agreed to open direct peace talks for the first time in decades, with the United States mediating.
Axios reported that the US and Lebanon requested Israel temporarily cease attacks against Hezbollah before talks begin.
The Lebanese Presidency Media Office stated that the US State Department will mediate talks.
Israel's ambassador to the US said the talks would mark the start of formal negotiations despite the absence of diplomatic relations.
Hezbollah dismissed the possibility of talks between Israel and the Lebanese government.
Continued Strikes and Divergent Views
Despite the announcement of talks, Israel continued strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The Guardian reported that the Lebanon war had restarted broadly on both sides of the border.
The BBC described how Lebanon thought there was a ceasefire only to be hit by a massive Israeli aerial attack.
Iran insisted Lebanon was covered by the ceasefire, while the US and Israel said it was not.
European leaders warned that Israel's attacks threatened to derail the wider ceasefire.
Hezbollah's Military Response
Hezbollah conducted 12 military operations targeting Israeli bases, settlements, and army gatherings.
“Israel says it will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah when it meets Lebanese officials for talks in Washington next week, as Israeli forces launch new deadly attacks on southern Lebanon”
The attacks came in response to the criminal Israeli aggression.
UNIFIL reported that Israeli ground forces penetrated up to 7 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Lebanese authorities said the death toll since March 2 had risen to 687 killed.
UN Secretary-General Guterres arrived in Beirut to launch an emergency funding appeal.
Domestic and Regional Reactions
79% of Israelis supported the continued strikes into Lebanon.
Israel has rejected the idea of France acting as a mediator.
Lebanon's Prime Minister postponed a planned trip to the US.
Iran's parliament speaker said Tehran would not engage in negotiations without a ceasefire in Lebanon.
The IMF announced it would downgrade its global growth outlook because of the war.
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