Lebanon says ceasefire must be in place before Israel talks

A high-ranking Lebanese official has informed the BBC that the nation will engage in direct talks with Israel next week only if a ceasefire is already established. This follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to initiate direct discussions, citing “repeated requests from the Lebanese government” as the reason.

The U.S. State Department will convene a gathering in Washington “to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations” between Lebanon and Israel. However, Israeli air strikes continue to target Lebanese territory, resulting in 21 casualties in the most recent assault, according to Lebanese authorities. Additionally, Hezbollah has launched more rockets at various locations in Israel.

Lebanese officials reported that the fatalities included seven individuals from a single family in Abbassieh and 11 others in Zrarieh. A medical facility in Burj Qalaway was struck, leading to two deaths, while a drone attack on an ambulance in Toul caused no injuries. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it had destroyed approximately 10 rocket launchers during Thursday night’s strikes, which targeted northern Israel. The force claims it is actively identifying and neutralizing additional launch sites.

Dispute Over Ceasefire Inclusion

Hezbollah launched rockets at Kiryat Shmona, near the Israel-Lebanon border, and Misgav Am in the Upper Galilee region on Friday morning. No casualties were reported. The group cited Israel’s alleged “violation” of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement as justification.

There remains significant disagreement regarding Lebanon’s inclusion in the US-Iran ceasefire agreement announced by former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Pakistan, which helped broker the truce, and Iran assert that Lebanon was part of the deal, while the U.S. and Israel claim otherwise. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh labeled Israeli attacks on Lebanon as a “grave violation” of the ceasefire.

Speaking in Budapest on Wednesday, U.S. Vice-President JD Vance clarified that the ceasefire agreement “did not include Lebanon.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu emphasized in a statement to northern Israel residents that “there is no ceasefire in Lebanon” and that the talks aim to disarm Hezbollah and establish a lasting peace accord.

Direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are rare, as the two nations typically communicate via intermediaries. Efforts to initiate talks began after a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, with U.S. diplomats facilitating indirect discussions. In Beirut, rescue teams are still recovering bodies from the most intense Israeli air strikes since the latest conflict began, which killed over 300 people and injured more than 1,000.

The IDF noted it had focused on “100+ Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, & command-and-control centres” during the strikes. This underscores the ongoing tension and the complex dynamics shaping the conflict’s resolution.