Israel signalled it would continue its military offensive in Lebanon even as diplomatic efforts gathered momentum, with Hezbollah indicating openness to discussions linked to a ceasefire framework.
The
developments come more than six weeks into a war that expanded from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
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Israel’s security cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, amid mounting pressure from Washington to de-escalate hostilities.
US President Donald Trump earlier said the conflict with Iran could end soon, telling the world to expect an “amazing two days,” raising expectations of a potential diplomatic breakthrough affecting the Lebanon front.
Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that military operations would continue.
In a video statement released while the cabinet meeting was underway, Netanyahu said Israeli forces were intensifying operations against Hezbollah and were close to “overcoming” the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, a key stronghold of the group and an entry point to surrounding villages.
Netanyahu also said he had instructed the military to continue strengthening the security zone in southern Lebanon while negotiations proceed.
Highlighting the significance of ongoing diplomacy, he noted that Israeli and Lebanese envoys had met in Washington earlier this week.
“These negotiations have not taken place for over 40 years. They are happening now because we are very strong, and countries are coming to us – not only Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.
HEZBOLLAH INDICATES POSITION AS LEBANON PURSUES DIPLOMACY
Efforts towards a ceasefire have been under discussion, two senior Lebanese officials said, though they indicated uncertainty about when any truce could begin or how long it might last.
According to the officials, the duration of a ceasefire in Lebanon may depend on the sustainability of a separate truce between the United States and Iran.
Hezbollah’s position has remained closely tied to broader regional negotiations.
Iran has said Lebanon must be included in any wider agreement aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East, while Washington has pushed back, saying the talks are separate.
Within Lebanon, the diplomatic push has triggered divisions.
Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah criticised the government’s decision to pursue talks with Israel, saying it had “taken a wrong path that leads only to increasing the rift” within Lebanese society.
The current Lebanese government, which came to power in early 2025 on a reform platform that included disarming non-state actors, has sought to separate negotiations with Israel from the wider geopolitical track involving Iran, AP reported.
Officials argue Lebanon should not be treated as a bargaining lever in broader regional diplomacy.
ISRAEL SEEKS BUFFER ZONE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON
Israel’s military campaign began on March 2 after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border in support of Tehran following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
The escalation reignited hostilities between the long-time adversaries just 15 months after their last major confrontation.
Lebanese authorities say the war has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced around 1.2 million residents.
Israeli forces have advanced into southern Lebanon, aiming to create a buffer zone extending to the Litani River, roughly 30 km north of Israel’s border.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said the objective was to restrict Hezbollah’s presence in the area.
“I have instructed that the entire area of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River become a no-go zone for Hezbollah operatives,” Zamir said during a visit to southern Lebanon.
Israel says Hezbollah attacks have killed two civilians, while 13 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, announced new rocket launches, with an Israeli government spokesperson saying the group fired 40 rockets into Israel on Wednesday morning.
Israel has not conducted airstrikes in Beirut since April 8, when its heaviest bombardment of the Lebanese capital killed 357 people, including 71 women and 30 children, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Israel said more than 250 Hezbollah militants were among those killed in the strikes.
RARE DIRECT TALKS MARK SHIFT IN DIPLOMATIC TRACK
The current negotiations represent the first direct engagement between Israel and Lebanon in decades.
Lebanon and Israel have no formal diplomatic ties, and a 1955 Lebanese law prohibits citizens from contacting Israelis, though enforcement has varied, AP reported.
The preparatory meeting held in Washington on Tuesday brought together envoys from both countries face-to-face, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials positioned between them.
The meeting focused on logistical arrangements rather than substantive decisions, and no ceasefire was announced.
“This is a process, not an event,” Rubio said. “This is more than just one day. This will take time.”
Lebanon has sought Israeli troop withdrawal from southern territory, the return of displaced civilians, the release of Lebanese detainees and international support for reconstruction and strengthening state security forces.
Israel, meanwhile, has framed the discussions largely around reducing Hezbollah’s military influence.
Previous diplomatic efforts between the two sides have often stalled or produced agreements that were never fully implemented, including a 1983 accord reached during Lebanon’s civil war and a 2022 US-mediated maritime border agreement aimed at reducing tensions.
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