Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be “no ceasefire in Lebanon,” after Israel carried out strikes it described as attacks on Hezbollah launch sites. His remarks came shortly after Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key.”
The latest exchanges have added pressure to already fraught diplomacy in the region. Israel’s bombing of Lebanon after the US-Iran ceasefire has prompted condemnation, even as officials continue to speak about broader efforts to reduce the risk of escalation.
In the UK, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In comments reported by Reuters, she also said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
Talks over the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as another point of tension in the wider crisis. Amid ceasefire discussions, Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels in exchange for safe passage through the waterway.
Trump suggested on Wednesday that the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture. The White House later said the priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
The shipping route remains strategically important, and any restrictions or charges on vessels would carry wider implications for regional trade and security. Cooper’s call for toll-free passage reflects concerns that the crisis could affect commercial shipping beyond the immediate conflict zones.
Scrutiny over military action
The developments also come amid renewed scrutiny of how the US and its allies respond to the conflict. One statement highlighted that decisions were guided by “principles and values” and by a commitment not to get involved without a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan.
That position underscores the legal and strategic questions surrounding direct involvement in the violence, even as fighting and strikes continue in the region. For now, the gap between diplomatic efforts and military action remains wide.
Netanyahu’s rejection of any ceasefire in Lebanon points to the difficulty of turning public appeals for restraint into a workable agreement. With Israel continuing strikes on Hezbollah targets and international officials urging broader inclusion in any deal, the crisis appears far from resolution.
Further negotiations are expected to focus on Lebanon’s role, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and whether any ceasefire framework can withstand the competing demands of the parties involved.
