Israel's security cabinet will convene at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said. The meeting comes after more than five weeks of war with Hezbollah that escalated from the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
The U.S. hosted the first face-to-face meeting between Israel and Lebanon in more than 30 years on Tuesday to discuss ending the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli and Lebanese diplomats for talks. Israel's ambassador said after the meeting that both sides discovered they were "on the same side of the equation" in what he called "liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah."
Lebanon's ambassador reiterated his country's calls for a ceasefire, which Israel has so far ruled out. Hezbollah was not part of the talks and said it would not abide by any agreement, including renewed demands to disarm.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue despite diplomatic efforts. Israel claimed hundreds of those killed were Hezbollah militants. Among those killed in weekend strikes was Hassan Badawi, a 31-year-old Red Cross volunteer struck by an Israeli drone strike while working with other first responders in Beirut.
Four nations called for an urgent end to hostilities. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan issued a joint statement demanding cessation of the conflict. Meanwhile, mediators are racing to bring the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.
Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi told Reuters that diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire soon.
Israel's security cabinet will convene at 8 p.m. on Wednesday to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said. The meeting comes after more than five weeks of war with Hezbollah that escalated from the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The timing suggests a concrete decision point rather than preliminary discussions about ending hostilities.
The U.S. hosted the first face-to-face meeting between Israel and Lebanon in more than 30 years on Tuesday to discuss ending the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood alongside Israeli and Lebanese diplomats during the two-hour talks. Israel's ambassador said after the meeting that both sides discovered they were "on the same side of the equation" in what he called "liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah."
Lebanon's ambassador reiterated his country's calls for a ceasefire, which Israel has so far ruled out. Hezbollah was not part of the talks and said it would not abide by any agreement, including renewed demands to disarm.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue despite diplomatic efforts. A devastating strike last week killed more than 400 people in a span of just 10 minutes, according to Lebanese health officials. Israel claimed hundreds of those killed were Hezbollah militants. Among those killed in weekend strikes was Hassan Badawi, a 31-year-old Red Cross volunteer struck by an Israeli drone strike while working with other first responders in Beirut.
Four nations called for an urgent end to hostilities. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan issued a joint statement demanding cessation of the conflict. Meanwhile, mediators are racing to bring the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump told The New York Post he felt talks could be imminent, saying they could happen over the next two days in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.
Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi told Reuters that diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire soon. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced she would suspend a defense cooperation agreement with Israel following the extended conflict.
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