Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday he has ordered his cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon. The talks are intended to disarm Hezbollah and establish peace relations between the two nations. This directive follows Lebanon's repeated requests for such discussions. The statement also noted Israel's appreciation for Lebanon's Prime Minister calling for Beirut's demilitarization.
The announcement comes as the Israeli military warned residents of southern Beirut suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, of imminent strikes and urged evacuation. The IDF stated its operations target Hezbollah's military infrastructure and operatives, not civilians. This follows a significant wave of Israeli strikes earlier in the week that reportedly killed over 200 people.
Hezbollah confirmed engaging in ground combat with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. While Israel frequently issues evacuation warnings for Beirut's suburbs, Thursday's alert also included areas near Lebanon's international airport.
There is ongoing debate regarding whether a recent ceasefire agreement includes Lebanon. Both Netanyahu and U.S. President Trump assert it does not, a claim disputed by some international mediators. Several nations, including Germany, France, and the UK, have expressed concern over the escalating conflict in southern Lebanon, warning it could jeopardize broader peace processes. Iran views Lebanon as integral to any ceasefire and stated that Israeli strikes render planned talks with U.S. envoys meaningless.