Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday (9 April) he is seeking direct talks with Beirut, a day after the deadliest bombardment of the war killed more than 250 people in Lebanon and put Donald Trump’s U.S.–Iran ceasefire at risk.
Trump announced a ceasefire in the six-week-old Iran conflict late on Tuesday, just hours before a deadline after which he had threatened to destroy Iran’s entire civilisation.
In Pakistan, authorities were preparing for the first round of U.S.–Iran talks, locking down the capital, Islamabad.
However, there was no sign that Iran was easing its near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Israel’s ongoing attacks on Lebanon remain a key sticking point.
In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, just one oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers passed through the strait, which typically handled around 140 ships a day before the war, accounting for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
Netanyahu said in a statement that he had instructed officials to begin peace talks as soon as possible, including discussions on disarming the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah.
“In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” he said.
“The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.”
An hour before Netanyahu’s statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he was pursuing a diplomatic track on the issue, which was beginning to be viewed “positively” by international actors.
A senior Lebanese official told Reuters that Beirut had spent the past day pushing for a temporary ceasefire to enable broader talks with Israel, describing the effort as a “separate track but the same model” as the U.S.–Iran truce.
Israel says ceasefire excludes Lebanon
Israel says its operations in Lebanon are not covered by Trump’s ceasefire.
While Washington has also excluded Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan - which acted as mediator - say it was explicitly included in the deal. Several countries, including Britain and France, have called for the truce to be extended to Lebanon.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is expected to lead the Iranian delegation opposite U.S. Vice President JD Vance, said on social media that Lebanon and the rest of Iran’s “axis” of regional allies were inseparable parts of any ceasefire.
A Pakistani source said Islamabad was working on ceasefires for Lebanon as well as Yemen, where Israel has also targeted Iran-aligned forces.
Israel continued its bombardment of Beirut’s southern suburbs and other parts of the country on Thursday, according to Lebanese state media.
It also expanded evacuation orders to include areas on Beirut’s outskirts near the airport, as well as several displacement shelters.
Hezbollah said it carried out at least 20 military operations on Thursday, targeting Israeli vehicles on Lebanese territory and launching attacks into northern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the...
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday (9 April) he is seeking direct talks with Beirut, a day...
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned continued Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, which have left hundreds dead - mostly civilians -&n...
Every year, 9 April brings Georgia to a standstill. It is a day of grief, pride and reflection, as the nation remembers those who died for freedom ...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday (9 April) that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a vital interest for both Italy and the European Union, pledging coordination with international partners to ensure safe passage.
Iranian officials have criticised ceasefire violations by Isreal and U.S., citing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on Wednesday (8 April), an intrusion of a military drone, and a U.S. denial of Tehran’s right of nuclear enrichment, on the first day of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday its military ships and aircraft will remain around Iran and threatened that the U.S. will start "shooting" again unless Tehran fully complies with the deal reached with Washington.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned continued Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, which have left hundreds dead - mostly civilians - over the past 48 hours, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed his cabinet to begin direct peace talks with Lebanon.
Every year, 9 April brings Georgia to a standstill. It is a day of grief, pride and reflection, as the nation remembers those who died for freedom while confronting present-day challenges.
Millions of Indians queued to vote in local elections across two states on Thursday, kicking off four key contests this month.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister’s visit to Azerbaijan on 9 April signals a deepening strategic dialogue between Baku and European partners. Analysts say economic interests and geopolitical shifts are driving closer engagement.
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