Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, even as Israeli strikes on the country continued and confusion persisted over a reported ceasefire.
The development comes after Iran accused Israel of “blatantly violating” a ceasefire following renewed attacks on Lebanon.
However, Netanyahu said there was “no ceasefire” in Lebanon and warned that Israel would “continue to strike Hezbollah with force.” Earlier, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for parts of Beirut ahead of further operations.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told NBC News that Israel would be “scaling back” its attacks on Lebanon to support upcoming negotiations between Iran and the United States.
The conflicting statements follow a wave of Israeli strikes across Lebanon yesterday, with Lebanon’s Health Ministry reporting at least 303 people killed and more than 1,000 wounded. Authorities said the attacks targeted multiple areas, including locations in and around the capital Beirut.
Late Tuesday, the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire arrangement, but details of the agreement remain unclear, with differing interpretations emerging from involved parties.
While Iran has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, Israel has maintained that no such ceasefire applies to its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Newswire)