Israel announced on Thursday it would initiate direct talks with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations, even as military strikes and hostilities continued in southern Lebanon and Beirut. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his cabinet to begin negotiations with the Lebanese government amid escalating violence and increasing international concern that the conflict could destabilize a recently declared ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The announcement comes after a significant Israeli air assault on Lebanon on Wednesday, which struck over 100 targets in about ten minutes, including in the heart of Beirut. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported at least 203 deaths and around 1,000 injuries from the bombardment, with many victims from densely populated civilian areas. Lebanese rescuers continued working to recover bodies from collapsed buildings on Thursday amid pleas from families searching for missing relatives.
Despite the call for talks, Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire before engaging in negotiations. A Lebanese government official conveyed that Beirut wants hostilities paused to create an environment conducive for dialogue, while Hezbollah has rejected direct talks unless Israel ceases its attacks and withdraws from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah also said it was engaged in ground combat in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, and claimed to have fired rockets in response to Israeli strikes.
Netanyahu stated that the purpose of the negotiations would be the disarmament of Hezbollah and the formalization of peaceful ties between the two countries, which have not held direct talks since the early 1980s. However, he simultaneously reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to continue its military operations against Hezbollah, emphasizing the group’s threat to northern Israel and vowing to target anyone acting against Israeli civilians.
The conflict has drawn diverse international reactions. European leaders expressed concern that the heavy Israeli bombardment might undermine the fragile ceasefire process brokered between the U.S. and Iran. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and counterparts in Paris and London called for the ceasefire to be extended to Lebanon to prevent further escalation.
Iran, a key ally of Hezbollah, criticized Israel’s attacks as violations of the ceasefire and warned they threatened ongoing diplomatic efforts. Iranian officials, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and President Masoud Pezeshkian, called for a halt to hostilities in Lebanon, asserting that the country’s security is integral to the truce. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan removed a public statement about an impending delegation visit amid unclear developments surrounding planned talks in Islamabad between U.S. and Iranian officials.
The United States maintained that the ceasefire agreement did not cover the fighting in Lebanon, justifying Israel’s ongoing operations against Hezbollah. However, President Donald Trump reportedly urged Netanyahu to temper the strikes in order to preserve the ceasefire with Iran, marking a shift from the previous U.S. stance, which had allowed Israel greater latitude in targeting Hezbollah.
On the ground, the human toll continues to rise as displacement surges in southern Lebanon, with estimates suggesting over one million people have fled their homes. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for reinforcing state control over Beirut and the disarmament of non-state armed groups, highlighting growing demands within Lebanon for the government to reassert authority over Hezbollah.
As diplomatic efforts are underway, uncertainty remains over whether talks will proceed without a durable ceasefire and how the broader Middle East conflict might evolve. Both sides emphasize their respective security concerns, while international mediators push for negotiations aimed at ending violence and addressing the longstanding Hezbollah issue.