Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be “no ceasefire in Lebanon”, as the conflict in the region continued to intensify and air raid sirens sounded across Israel following rockets launched by Hezbollah.
The comments came shortly after Donald Trump told US media that he had asked Netanyahu to be more “low-key”. The remark added to a day of heightened diplomatic activity and public pressure as leaders weighed the next steps in the wider Middle East crisis.
Lebanon must be part of any deal, says UK foreign minister
UK foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement. In additional remarks reported by Reuters, Cooper also said that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be toll-free.
Her comments came amid ongoing talks over the terms of a ceasefire and the movement of vessels through the strategic waterway. Tehran has proposed fees or tolls on ships passing safely through the strait, while Trump suggested on Wednesday that the US and Iran could collect tolls in a joint venture.
The White House, however, said the priority was reopening the Strait of Hormuz without limitations.
Pressure over the wider conflict
The latest developments underline the complexity of any potential ceasefire arrangement. The fighting has spread pressure across multiple fronts, with Lebanon now emerging as a central issue in diplomatic discussions. Netanyahu’s rejection of a ceasefire in Lebanon suggests the Israeli government is not prepared to separate that theatre from its broader military approach.
At the same time, the reports of Hezbollah rockets and air raid sirens across Israel point to continued instability and the risk of escalation despite ceasefire discussions elsewhere.
Cooper’s insistence that Lebanon be included in any deal reflects growing concern among allies that a limited agreement could fail to address the full scope of the conflict. Her remarks on the Strait of Hormuz also highlight the extent to which the crisis is affecting not only regional security but also international shipping and trade.
Dispute over the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key point of tension in the ceasefire debate. Tehran’s proposal for charges on vessels, and Trump’s suggestion of a possible joint toll arrangement, have added a new economic dimension to the crisis. The White House has made clear, though, that its focus is on restoring passage through the strait without restrictions.
Cooper’s view that shipping should remain toll-free aligns with that position, even as negotiations continue and different parties press competing ideas about how the route should be managed.
As the diplomatic discussions continue, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Netanyahu’s statement, the reported rocket fire from Hezbollah and the ongoing arguments over Lebanon and Hormuz suggest that any broader ceasefire agreement will remain difficult to secure.
The latest comments also show how quickly the crisis has expanded beyond immediate military operations, drawing in questions about maritime access, regional diplomacy and the limits of international mediation.
