Israel and Hezbollah continued to trade strikes on Friday as diplomatic pressure mounted over the fragile ceasefire linked to the war involving Iran and its regional adversaries. At the same time, Donald Trump told US media he had asked Benjamin Netanyahu to be more “low-key” in Lebanon, even as Netanyahu said there was no ceasefire in Lebanon and Israel carried out fresh attacks.
The latest developments came as the streets of Islamabad were placed under strict lockdown ahead of what Pakistani officials described as historic negotiations between Iran and the US. The talks, due to take place over the weekend, are being presented as a possible turning point in a conflict that has already caused extensive destruction across the Middle East.
But the prospects for a lasting breakthrough appeared increasingly uncertain. The ceasefire between the US and Iran looked precarious amid continued Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and disputes over the terms of the negotiations. One major point of concern is the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has added to doubts about whether the calm can hold.
Despite the tension, Pakistani officials insisted that the talks would proceed as scheduled. The government’s preparations in Islamabad reflected the importance of the meeting, which is being viewed as one of the most significant diplomatic efforts since the conflict escalated.
Trump’s remarks added another layer of uncertainty to the situation. Speaking to US media, he said he had urged Netanyahu to keep operations in Lebanon more restrained. That statement came as Israel continued to strike targets and Hezbollah responded, underlining how far the region remains from a stable ceasefire.
Netanyahu, for his part, rejected the idea that a ceasefire had taken hold in Lebanon. His comments came alongside renewed Israeli attacks, reinforcing the impression that military action is continuing even as international efforts to de-escalate the conflict gather pace.
The coming days now appear critical. The discussions in Pakistan are expected to test whether the US and Iran can move toward a broader agreement, even as the violence on the ground continues to complicate any diplomatic progress. With Beirut, the Strait of Hormuz and the talks in Islamabad all now tied into the same crisis, the outlook remains highly unstable.
For now, the region is caught between warfare and diplomacy. Israel and Hezbollah are still exchanging fire, Lebanon remains under attack, and the Iran-US negotiations are being watched as a possible route out of a conflict that has spread across borders and raised fears of a wider regional war.
