Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the ceasefire involving Iran does not apply to Lebanon, as the conflict in the region continues to broaden and diplomatic pressure intensifies.
His remarks came shortly after US president Donald Trump told American media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key” amid the fragile ceasefire with Iran. The comments underscored the delicate political and military balance surrounding the situation, even as hostilities elsewhere in the region continued.
Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, adding to the volatility and prompting further concern about whether the ceasefire could hold or expand to cover other fronts. The exchange followed Israeli bombing of Lebanon after the US-Iran ceasefire, an action that drew condemnation.
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In remarks reported by Reuters, she also said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz should be toll-free. Her comments reflected growing international concern about the broader regional consequences of the fighting and the risk to maritime trade.
Talks around the ceasefire have also focused on the vital waterway. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels passing safely through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump suggested on Wednesday that the US and Iran could collect tolls together in a joint venture, while the White House said the main priority was reopening the strait without restrictions.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical shipping route, and any disruption has immediate implications beyond the conflict itself. The discussion over tolls and access has become part of a wider diplomatic effort to prevent the crisis from affecting international trade and energy supplies.
The latest comments from Netanyahu suggest that, at least from Israel’s perspective, the Iran ceasefire is limited in scope and does not resolve the situation with Hezbollah or the fighting connected to Lebanon. That position stands in contrast to calls from some international figures for a broader agreement that addresses multiple fronts at once.
As the situation continues to develop, the ceasefire’s durability appears uncertain. While the US has urged restraint and a lower-profile response from Israel, military activity and political disagreement remain active on several fronts, including Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz.
The clash between diplomatic efforts and ongoing attacks highlights how quickly the conflict can shift. For now, the ceasefire with Iran has not stopped violence elsewhere, and the question of whether Lebanon will be included in any future agreement remains unresolved.
More developments are expected as leaders and foreign ministries continue weighing the next steps in a rapidly changing crisis.
