Beirut, April 8, (dpa/GNA) – Israel plans to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as early as next week, even as the latest wave of Israeli bombardments killed more than 300 people in Lebanon and raised fears of a new escalation in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his Cabinet to begin talks “as soon as possible,” his office said on Thursday evening, following repeated requests from Lebanon.
Israeli media reported the negotiations could start next week in Washington, initially at the ambassadorial level.
A US State Department official confirmed that the department will host talks next week with Israel and Lebanon, on ongoing ceasefire negotiations. The official did not specify the timing of the meeting or who would attend.
The talks are expected to focus on disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah, which holds significant political influence in Lebanon while operating outside of full state control, and on establishing peaceful relations between the two countries, Netanyahu’s office said.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has signalled willingness to engage, though officials in Beirut have said any negotiations should be preceded by a ceasefire.
But in a video message issued later on Thursday, Netanyahu said there would be “no ceasefire in Lebanon,” indicating the sides remain far apart.
Lebanon observed a day of mourning, after a wave of Israeli strikes hit Beirut and other areas on Wednesday, killing at least 303 people and wounding about 1,150, according to the Health Ministry. It marked the deadliest day since the current escalation began in March.
The strikes targeted central Beirut and southern suburbs, including residential and commercial areas, many without prior warning. Among those killed was the nephew and secretary of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, the Israeli military said.
Government offices were closed and flags flown at half-mast across Lebanon on Thursday. Large parts of the capital were deserted as rescue and clearing operations continued.
“I lost my home and car, but my children are OK,” said Hiba, a woman whose 10-storey building was heavily damaged in the uptown Tal al Khayat neighbourhood in central Beirut.
A woman was seen by a dpa reporter shouting: “I lost my home for what? For Iran? Hezbollah, wake up, this is your country, not Iran.”
The health ministry said since March 2, at least 1,888 people were killed in Lebanon and more than 6,000 others injured.
Unlike Iran, Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire that took effect on Wednesday, according to the United States and Israel.
The truce, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, is intended to pause the conflict for two weeks while negotiations on a more durable settlement are pursued. Talks between Iranian and US representatives are set to begin in Pakistan at the weekend.
The Israeli Air Force launched a devastating wave of airstrikes on Beirut and other parts of the country just hours after the ceasefire took hold.
The Hezbollah militia, which is supported by Iran, launched another wave of rockets at northern Israel in the evening, shortly after Israel announced plans for direct talks with Lebanon.
The Israeli army said Hezbollah fired about 50 rockets into northern Israel since the morning. The Lebanese militia said the strikes were in response to what it called Israeli violations.
Warning sirens sounded in several border areas, while most of the projectiles were intercepted, the military said.
Iranian leaders threatened a decisive response due to the ongoing Israeli attacks on its ally Hezbollah, with President Masoud Pezeshkian called Wednesday’s strikes a “blatant violation of the initial ceasefire agreement.”
“This is a dangerous sign of deception and lack of commitment to potential agreements,” he said, warning that “the continuation of these actions will render negotiations meaningless.”
“Our fingers remain on the trigger,” Pezeshkian added. “Iran will never abandon its Lebanese sisters and brothers.”
Israel will be “scaling back” its attacks in Lebanon, according to US President Donald Trump.
He said he had spoken with Netanyahu, who had pledged to reduce the attacks, Trump told NBC News in a telephone interview on Thursday.
“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,” Trump said.
The website Axios, also citing US officials, reported that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made a similar request in a separate conversation with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, in his evening video address, did not confirm Trump’s account of their conversation.
Trump also told NBC that he was “very optimistic” that the US could reach a peace deal with Iran.
GNA