Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. The announcement follows a significant wave of Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday that killed 303 people and wounded 1,150, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
A US State Department official confirmed a meeting will be hosted next week to discuss ceasefire negotiations.
Lebanese officials called for a ceasefire before talks, but Netanyahu stated, "There is no ceasefire in Lebanon."
Negotiations are expected to center on disarming Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that operates separately from the Lebanese government despite having representation within it. The Lebanese government had previously banned Hezbollah's military activities but has not halted the group's operations.
Netanyahu's statement came after calls with US President Donald Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, with senior US officials reportedly urging Israel to reduce strikes and initiate negotiations. The talks are slated to begin next week in Washington.