Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has issued instructions to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” following what he claimed were requests from Beirut.
The announcement comes after Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon continued despite a two-week ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran, sparking confusion over whether Lebanon was included in the agreement.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the only solution to the current crisis is a ceasefire with Israel and reported that initial talks with Israel have received a “positive response.”
Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations Security Council confirmed that the US-Israel ceasefire included Lebanon, noting that the hostilities against the country were meant to halt under the agreement.
Meanwhile, Iran condemned the Israeli attacks and urged the US to fully enforce the ceasefire on all fronts, especially in Lebanon. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that any deviation from the ceasefire terms would constitute a breach of the US commitment.