Netanyahu Authorizes Direct Talks with Lebanon Amid Ongoing Strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the go-ahead for direct negotiations with Lebanon to commence as soon as possible. This decision comes despite recent Israeli military actions that have jeopardized a two-week ceasefire agreement facilitated by the United States and Iran.
“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu stated. He mentioned that the talks would primarily aim at disarming Hezbollah and fostering peaceful relations between the two nations.
Shortly before Netanyahu’s announcement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun indicated that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was essential, followed by direct talks.
Since early March, Israel has been targeting Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah, an Iran-supported Islamist group known for its history of violence, including rocket attacks and bombings.
Israel’s operations against Hezbollah fall under “Operation Roaring Lion,” which is part of its joint military efforts with the United States, also termed Operation Epic Fury.
Hezbollah had begun launching daily cross-border attacks against Israel in 2023 to show solidarity with Hamas. These tensions escalated into a large military conflict by late 2024, eventually leading to a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and international partners in early 2026.
The tentative ceasefire agreement made between the U.S. and Iran was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He claimed its terms applied universally, but the U.S. and Israel clarified that it excluded Lebanon and Hezbollah operations.
Despite ongoing diplomatic initiatives, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted substantial strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the largest coordinated attack on Hezbollah since launching Operation Roaring Lion. They targeted about 100 sites, including command centers and missile facilities.
“In 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion,” the IDF tweeted. The strikes included more than 100 Hezbollah headquarters and military installations in various locations.
As Israeli strikes on Hezbollah persist, concerns about the stability of the ceasefire grow, although Netanyahu reiterated that Lebanon is not part of that deal.
In the United States, President Trump emphasized that the ceasefire is conditional. He warned of severe retaliation if Iran fails to comply fully.
“All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Furthermore, Trump cautioned Iran against imposing tolls or fees on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, expressing frustration about their management of traffic there.
