Israel to open direct talks with Lebanon but not halt attacks on Hezbollah

The aftermath of an airstrike in the Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood of Beirut. Photo / Guy Peterson, The Washington Post

While insisting Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he has authorised direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah and “the formalisation of peaceful relations” between Israel and Lebanon.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the Cabinet yesterday to initiate direct talks with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu posted on X, adding: “Israel appreciates the call made today by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarise Beirut.”

Israel and Lebanon have not held direct talks with a goal of normalising relations since US-mediated talks in 1983, which led to an agreement that quickly collapsed.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter will lead the negotiations for Israel, it is understood.

Netanyahu’s announcement came as he otherwise appeared to ignore international calls to respect US President Donald Trump’s two-week truce agreement with Iran, and to extend the pause in fighting to Lebanon.

Israel has continued its bombing campaign against Hezbollah after unleashing some of its heaviest attacks on Beirut this week. Those strikes drew a wave of international condemnation.

“We continue to strike Hezbollah with force, precision and determination,” Netanyahu posted. “Our message is clear: Whoever acts against Israeli civilians – will be struck. We will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever required, until we restore full security to the residents of the north.”

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told reporters this week that he had requested Lebanese military and security forces “immediately reinforce the state’s full control” over Beirut, including by ensuring weapons were in the hands of only “legitimate security forces”.

Salam’s statement appeared to be a response to the Israeli military’s assertions that Hezbollah was operating deeper in Beirut and elsewhere outside the militant group’s strongholds in southern Lebanon.

Last month, as Israel stepped up its military operations against Hezbollah, Lebanese officials, in a diplomatic scramble from Beirut to Paris to Washington, called for a ceasefire, support for the Lebanese military to seize Hezbollah’s arsenal and eventual direct peace talks with Israel “under American sponsorship”, an adviser to President Joseph Aoun said at the time.

Pakistan, which helped broker this week’s ceasefire between Tehran and the White House, said originally that the halt in hostilities included Lebanon. Senior Iranian officials warned that Israel’s continuing onslaught could derail the tenuous truce. Already, Iran has said it is pausing plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz because of the Israeli attacks.

Sign up to Herald Premium Editor’s Picks, delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Editor-in-Chief Murray Kirkness picks the week’s best features, interviews and investigations. Sign up for Herald Premium here.