- he said the talks would begin “as soon as possible,” given the ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah
- Hezbollah fired a series of rockets into northern Israel, setting off warning sirens across the region
- Lebanese officials have reportedly been interested in opening negotiations with Israel for some time
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his government plans to initiate discussions with Lebanon aimed at reaching a ceasefire and addressing the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that he said the talks would begin “as soon as possible,” given the ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, as well as anticipated diplomatic efforts involving Iran in Islamabad.
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According to Netanyahu, the primary objectives of the negotiations will be to remove Hezbollah’s weapons and work toward more stable and peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.
Shortly after this announcement, Hezbollah fired a series of rockets into northern Israel, setting off warning sirens across the region.
Israeli officials indicated that formal talks are expected to start on Tuesday. The discussions are set to involve Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Reports suggest that the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, will serve as mediator.
Sources also emphasized that no ceasefire is currently in place. Israeli troops are expected to remain deployed in parts of Lebanon for the time being, with the aim of countering any potential threats posed by Hezbollah.
Lebanese officials have reportedly been interested in opening negotiations with Israel for some time. These efforts were communicated through contacts within the administration of Donald Trump as well as the French government.
While the U.S. reportedly urged Lebanon to first take concrete steps to disarm Hezbollah before engaging Israel, France attempted to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.
Israel, however, declined those earlier proposals, arguing that Lebanon had failed to restrain Hezbollah’s attacks, which led to Israeli military actions داخل Lebanese territory.
Senior Lebanese officials told Reuters that the planned discussions would follow a format similar to ongoing Iran–U.S. talks in Pakistan, though they noted that a specific time and venue have not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Trump reportedly urged Netanyahu during a phone call on Wednesday to reduce the intensity of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to NBC News. The request was said to be tied to efforts to maintain momentum in parallel negotiations with Iran.
Iranian leaders also weighed in on the situation. President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Israel’s actions, describing them as violations of an initial ceasefire understanding.
In a statement posted online, he warned that continued attacks could undermine diplomatic efforts and reaffirmed Iran’s support for Lebanon.
Similarly, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, called for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations.
He linked the issue to upcoming negotiations in Islamabad, stressing that Lebanon and allied groups are central to the broader ceasefire framework. He also warned that any breaches of the ceasefire could lead to serious consequences and urged an immediate de-escalation.
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