Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, speaking shortly after Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key”.
The remarks come amid continued fighting, with air raid sirens sounding across Israel after Hezbollah launched rockets.
The latest developments follow Israel’s bombing of Lebanon after a US-Iran ceasefire, which has prompted condemnation. The exchange has added fresh uncertainty to efforts to stabilise the wider region.
UK says Lebanon must be part of any deal
Yvette Cooper, the UK foreign minister, said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In separate comments reported by Reuters, she added that shipping through the strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
That issue has become part of broader ceasefire discussions. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on vessels to safely pass through the strait, while Trump on Wednesday suggested the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture.
The White House, however, said its priority was reopening the strait without limitations.
Lawful basis and planning
In the same sequence of remarks, a statement was also reported saying: “And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn’t get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.”
The comments underline the continuing debate over how far outside powers should go in responding to the crisis, and what conditions should apply to any wider ceasefire arrangement.
With Israel facing further rocket fire and diplomatic pressure growing around Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, the situation remains highly volatile as negotiations and military actions continue in parallel.
