Netanyahu Authorizes Direct Israel-Lebanon Talks Amid Ongoing Strikes on Hezbollah
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu authorized direct talks with Lebanon to begin as soon as possible.
- Talks will take place in Washington, hosted by the United States.
- Lebanon insists a ceasefire must be in place before negotiations.
Israel-Lebanon Talks
Netanyahu authorized direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible, aimed at disarming Hezbollah.
The talks are expected to begin next week at the U.S. State Department in Washington.
Netanyahu stressed there is no ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel would continue striking Hezbollah.
Lebanon insisted a ceasefire must be in place before talks.
Hezbollah rejected any direct negotiations.
The announcement came amid intense Israeli bombardment that killed more than 300 people in Lebanon.
Ceasefire Dispute
There was fierce dispute over whether Lebanon was included in the US-Iran ceasefire.
Pakistan and Iran said Lebanon was covered, while the US and Israel said it was not.
Netanyahu insisted Lebanon was not included and vowed to continue striking Hezbollah.
Trump backed Netanyahu's version, calling the conflict in Lebanon a separate skirmish.
European leaders warned the violence threatened to derail the wider ceasefire.
Iran warned it would close the Strait of Hormuz again if Israel's attacks continued.
Continued Bombing
Despite the announcement of talks, Israel continued its military campaign in Lebanon.
The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs.
The deadliest day of strikes killed at least 303 people in Lebanon.
Rescue teams continued to recover bodies from the rubble.
The intensity of Israeli attacks had diminished but the campaign was far from over.
The continued strikes cast a shadow over the nascent peace process.
Regional and Global Impact
The war's economic and diplomatic fallout continued to ripple across the region and the world.
Oil prices fluctuated as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed.
The International Monetary Fund announced it would downgrade its global growth outlook.
Ukraine revealed it had shot down Iranian-designed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries.
Pakistan's Defense Minister issued sharp criticism of Israel.
The war had killed thousands across the region.
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