Israel and Lebanon Ceasefire Talks Begin Amid Escalating Conflict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his government has directed cabinet members to initiate ceasefire talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” a day after Israel launched its most extensive attacks yet on the neighboring country. The strikes, which killed at least 300 people and injured 1,150, marked a significant escalation in the conflict. Netanyahu’s statement, posted on X in Hebrew, came amid repeated calls from Beirut for direct negotiations, though analysts caution that Israel’s continued military actions could undermine peace talks between the United States and Iran set to begin in Pakistan on Saturday. The attacks, which occurred without prior warnings, followed the announcement of a ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. Despite the pause in hostilities, Israeli strikes persisted in Lebanon on Friday, albeit at a reduced pace. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, responded by launching missile attacks into Israel. Experts suggest that Wednesday’s attacks were strategically aimed at disrupting Tehran’s ceasefire negotiations with Washington, as Iran has emphasized that halting attacks on both Iran and Lebanon would be a prerequisite for any talks. The conflict has displaced over one million people in Lebanon, with thousands of civilians killed. Israel claims its operations in southern Lebanon are targeting Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, but the humanitarian toll has been severe. The Israeli military’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982, which preceded the formation of Hezbollah as a resistance movement, has left a lasting impact.#iran #hezbollah #israeli_prime_minister_benjamin_netanyahu #lebanese_prime_minister_joseph_aoun #israeli_army_chief_eyal_zamir
