Israel has said it is continuing operations in south Beirut, as the latest round of diplomacy and military action leaves the Middle East ceasefire process under growing strain. The Israeli position remains that Lebanon is not part of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire proposal.
At the same time, officials in London and Washington have been weighing the wider regional implications of any deal. UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In remarks now being reported by Reuters, she also said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz should be toll-free.
Ceasefire talks face fresh pressure
The discussions around the ceasefire have been complicated by the situation in Lebanon and by tensions over access to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments. During the talks, Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels that want safe passage through the strait.
That idea has added another point of disagreement. On Wednesday, Donald Trump suggested the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture. The White House later said its priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
Israel maintains pressure on Lebanon
Israel’s warning to people to flee comes as it signals more strikes could follow in Lebanon. The Israeli military says it is continuing its activities in south Beirut, reinforcing the view that Lebanon remains outside the scope of the proposed ceasefire arrangement between the US and Iran.
The fighting and diplomatic bargaining have left the broader ceasefire effort in serious doubt. With military operations continuing and regional transit routes becoming part of the negotiations, the situation remains highly unstable.
Cooper’s comments underline the position of the UK government that any ceasefire arrangement should account for Lebanon as well as the wider conflict environment. Her remarks on Hormuz also reflect concern that shipping should not become another source of escalation.
As the talks continue, the dispute over the strait and the conflict in Lebanon are shaping the same crisis. The two issues are now closely linked, with proposals over vessel tolls and military strikes both feeding uncertainty about whether a durable agreement is possible.
For now, the ceasefire remains uncertain, Israel is maintaining its operations, and diplomatic efforts are still struggling to catch up with events on the ground.
