Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be “no ceasefire in Lebanon”, shortly after Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key”.
The remarks came as the Israel Defense Forces said it was attacking Hezbollah targets, describing them as launch sites. The latest developments added to already intense regional tensions after the US-Iran ceasefire, which has been followed by renewed criticism over Israel’s bombing of Lebanon.
In the UK, foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In comments also being reported by Reuters, she added that shipping through the strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
The strait has become another point of concern amid ceasefire talks. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels seeking safe passage through the waterway. Trump said on Wednesday that the US and Iran could potentially collect tolls in a joint venture, while the White House said the priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
The debate over the strait came alongside wider questions about the scope of any ceasefire arrangement and whether it could be made durable across the region. Cooper’s comments underscored the view in London that Lebanon cannot be left out of negotiations if a broader settlement is to hold.
Netanyahu’s comments signalled that Israel remains unwilling to pause its campaign in Lebanon, even as international pressure grows for a wider diplomatic agreement. The IDF’s announcement that it was striking Hezbollah launch sites pointed to continuing military operations on the ground.
The situation reflects the increasingly linked nature of the conflicts and negotiations now unfolding across the Middle East. Developments involving Lebanon, Iran and the strait of Hormuz have all become part of the same fast-moving diplomatic and military crisis.
Trump’s comment about wanting Netanyahu to be more “low-key” suggested concern in Washington about the public tone of Israel’s response. But the Israeli leader’s latest statement indicated there was little sign of a shift in policy.
As ceasefire discussions continue, the focus remains on whether any agreement can address the fighting in Lebanon, the security of shipping in the strait of Hormuz, and the broader regional fallout from the conflict.
Continue reading…
