Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his government to begin direct talks with Lebanon, he said in a statement on Thursday. Netanyahu said the talks would focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese political and militant group, and establishing peaceful relations.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese officials called for a ceasefire before the talks begin, but Netanyahu said: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon.
The Israeli military continued to strike Lebanon on Thursday, targeting what it described as Hezbollah rocket launch sites in the south, and issued new evacuation warnings for residents in southern Beirut. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the danger posed to hospitals and civilians caught in the conflict as approximately 450 patients could not be evacuated from major hospitals in targeted areas.
As violence escalates, the Lebanese cabinet instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions only. Netanyahu's office stated appreciation for the Lebanese Prime Minister’s call to demilitarise the capital. The latest conflict, marked by heavy air strikes, follows months of tensions and violence, with considerable civilian casualties and displacement recorded.
This sudden resumption of direct negotiations comes after pressure from top US officials, stressing the need for a de-escalation in military actions as both sides seek a long-term resolution amidst profound humanitarian crises.
A US State Department official confirmed it would host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese officials called for a ceasefire before the talks begin, but Netanyahu said: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon.
The Israeli military continued to strike Lebanon on Thursday, targeting what it described as Hezbollah rocket launch sites in the south, and issued new evacuation warnings for residents in southern Beirut. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the danger posed to hospitals and civilians caught in the conflict as approximately 450 patients could not be evacuated from major hospitals in targeted areas.
As violence escalates, the Lebanese cabinet instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions only. Netanyahu's office stated appreciation for the Lebanese Prime Minister’s call to demilitarise the capital. The latest conflict, marked by heavy air strikes, follows months of tensions and violence, with considerable civilian casualties and displacement recorded.
This sudden resumption of direct negotiations comes after pressure from top US officials, stressing the need for a de-escalation in military actions as both sides seek a long-term resolution amidst profound humanitarian crises.
